Kansas Wesleyan University is pleased to announce the hiring of Anthony Monson as the 29th coach in the history of the Men’s Basketball program. Monson, who most recently served as assistant coach at Tabor College in Hillsboro, Kansas, succeeds Chris Fear who resigned in late February after leading the Coyotes for five seasons.
“Anthony emerged as our top choice from a strong pool of candidates,” Kansas Wesleyan Director of Athletics Mike Hermann said. “Most importantly, he conveys a clear vision for the program, competing for championships in the KCAC and providing a great experience for the men’s basketball student-athletes. His knowledge of the KCAC and network of recruiting contacts will enable him to get off to an outstanding start at Kansas Wesleyan. He has been a key contributor to the Tabor program, the most successful KCAC program over the past decade, so he brings an understanding of what it takes to be successful in our conference. Plus, he brings a great enthusiasm for his profession and an excitement about becoming part of the Salina community. I am confident that he will quickly engage the campus and community with the men’s basketball program.”
There were many factors that attracted Monson to the basketball position.
“Kansas Wesleyan has outstanding facilities, a long-standing winning tradition in athletics, and a community in Salina that supports the school,” Monson said. “Combine those things with outstanding media coverage that makes small college athletics feel big time. All these things are what separates KWU from rest of KCAC.”
Monson has been the lead assistant coach at Tabor for the last nine seasons and involved with the Tabor program as an assistant coach for the last 11 seasons. During that time the Bluejays have posted the best win-loss record in the conference. The last three seasons, Tabor has made appearances in the NAIA Division II Men’s Basketball National Championships while winning back-to-back KCAC Regular Season Championships and winning the KCAC Tournament this past season.
“We will be a team that hangs our hat on defense first and foremost,” Monson said. “We will play a team style of basketball, there will be no individuals. We will be a team where everyone plays their role and every night you don’t know who will step up for us. We will play up tempo basketball and be known as a team that is well coached with solid fundamentals that won’t beat themselves.”
“Anthony will be a great addition to our coaching staff. He brings excellent experience and his philosophy as a head coach is in alignment with our university’s mission,” said Kansas Wesleyan President Dr. Matt Thompson. “His energy is contagious and I’m confident it will ignite our men’s basketball program. I’m pleased to welcome Anthony, Amber and Kaydence to the Coyote family.”
Monson, a native of White Bear Lake, Minnesota, played two seasons at Central Lakes College in Brainerd, Minnesota, earning All-North Division and MCAC All-State honors in 2002-03. He then played two seasons at Tabor earning All-KCAC honors in 2004 and was a team captain in 2005. He moved into a student assistant coach position in 2005-06, before joining the staff as a full-time assistant for the 2006-07 season.
He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Physical Education, Recreation Health and Teaching from Tabor and a Master of Science degree in Health, Physical Education and Recreation from Emporia State University. He is married to Amber and the couple has one daughter, Kaydence.
