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Thanks to great sources who got HoopDirt.com out in front of this one back on August 7th (IPFW DIRT). It has now been made official – Mark Downey has been named as an assistant coach at IPFW. Here is the official release:
IPFW head men’s basketball coach has named former Bowling Green assistant coach and NCAA Division II South Region Coach of the Year Mark Downey as assistant coach for the 2015-16 season.
“We are excited to have Mark join our coaching staff this August,” said Coffman. “He brings a well-rounded background to our staff, including 10 years of head coaching experience at the Division II and junior college level and eight years as a Division I assistant. Mark is a proven winner who has been honored with six Coach of the Year awards in ten seasons as a head coach. He also brings a diverse network of recruiting ties having coached collegiately in seven different states.”
In his 10 seasons as head coach at West Alabama (2013-14), Charleston (2010-13), Arkansas Tech (2006-10), and Independence Community College (1999-01), he compiled a 204-103 overall record, averaging just over 20 wins per season, and just one losing season.
Downey comes to IPFW from Bowling Green, where he helped direct the team to a 21-12 record, and into the second round of the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament. While with the Falcons, he helped coach Richaun Holmes, the Mid-American Conference Defensive Player of ,the Year, and a second round NBA draft pick of the Philadelphia 76ers.
Prior to Bowling Green, Downey spent one season at the University of West Alabama in 2013-14. While at UWA, he helped lead the team to a 17-11 overall record, advancing to the NCAA Division II South Region Tournament.
Before taking over the West Alabama program, he spent three seasons at the University of Charleston, where he went 60-28, and helped the Golden Eagles to their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2001. At Arkansas Tech he helped lead the Wonder Boys to a 2010 Gulf South Conference Championsip, and was ranked No. 1 in the country for seven out of the 15 weeks the poll was conducted, en route to being named the 2010 National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) South Region Coach of the Year.
In his two seasons as head coach of Independence Community College, he helped lead the program to records of 24-12 in 2000 earning the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association Coach of the Year, and a 26-8 record in 2001.
Downey also had assistant coaching stops at the University of New Orleans, Independence Community College, Marshall, and Barton College. He played collegiately for the University of Charleston and Wheeling Jesuit, where he was a team captain in his two seasons at Charleston, and an all-conference performer at Wheeling Jesuit.
He and his wife Ericka are the parents of two sons, Bryce (9), and Andrew (4). He earned his degree in Sports Medicine from the University of Charleston in 1995 and a Master’s Degree in Athletic Administration from Marshall University in 1998.
http://www.gomastodons.com/news/2015/8/12/MBB_0812153201.aspx
Photo Courtesy IPFW Athletics
