A few things that I’ve heard to wind down the week…
I have heard from multiple sources that Tra Arnold will be hired as an assistant at Samford. Arnold spent last season as the associate head coach at Iona, but coached the team during the season as Tim Cluess was sidelined due to health reasons. Before his time at Iona, he served as the head coach at both Odessa College (TX) and Blinn College (TX). He would replace Jake Headrick who resigned a few weeks ago.
An interesting name to keep an eye on in the search to replace Will Ryan at D2 Wheeling University (WVa) is Patrick Beilein. Most recently, Beilein served a short stint as the head coach at Niagara, but also worked as the head coach at D2 schools LeMoyne (2015-19) and West Virginia Wesleyan 2012-14). He played collegiately for his father John at West Virginia.
Doug Esleek, who most recently served as the associate head coach on former head C.B. McGrath’s staff at UNCW, has landed as the head coach and AD at Forsyth Country Day School (NC). Esleek has also worked at Mercer, Gardner-Webb, and UNCG.
Interviews at D3 Augustana College (IL) are wrapping up today. It sounds like the college brought four candidates to campus in their search to replace Grey Giovanine, who retired back in May after 21 seasons. The names that I’ve heard are: former Illinois Tech head coach Todd Kelly, Downers Grove North HS (IL) head coach Jim Thomas, a current head coach in the WIAC, and possibly a MM D1 assistant (working to confirm that one). An official decision is expected sometime next week.
It sounds like a D3 in NY just opened – more when I get confirmation later today…**(UPDATE: Confirmed – Purchase College is open. More HERE)**
