Kyle Tolin accomplished something in 2017 that no University of Arkansas at Monticello men’s basketball coach had been able to achieve in 61 years; he led his team to a conference championship.
Tolin was rewarded for that championship today when he became the second coach in UAM history to sign a multi-year contract. The two-year agreement includes automatic two-year rollovers through 2022.
Tolin led the Boll Weevils to a 23-7 record last season that included a 17-5 mark in the Great American Conference and a share of the GAC championship with East Central Oklahoma. UAM reached the finals of the GAC Tournament, earned a berth in the NCAA Division II Central Region Tournament and Tolin was named the 2017 GAC Coach of the Year.
“We want our coaches and student-athletes to understand that we want to reward success and insure stability in our intercollegiate athletics program,” said UAM Chancellor Karla Hughes. “What Kyle and the young men in his program accomplished this past season is a remarkable achievement, but what I’m most proud of is the character of Coach Tolin, his staff, and the student-athletes he has brought into his program. Coach Tolin is a young man who has accomplished a lot in a brief time and we’re excited about the future of Boll Weevil basketball.”
The UAM job is Tolin’s first as a head coach. Tolin became UAM’s 15th head men’s basketball coach in 2014 after spending 10 years as an assistant coach at Oklahoma Baptist University. During his tenure as an assistant coach at OBU, he helped his team to 10 straight NAIA national tournaments, including the 2010 national championship.
“Kyle has been a tremendous addition to our athletics program,” said John Harvey, UAM athletics director and head baseball coach. A year ago, Harvey became the first UAM coach to sign a multi-year contract. “As a coach, I understand what a wonderful job Kyle has done with our men’s basketball program. Successful coaches are hard to find and we wanted to make sure Coach Tolin was rewarded for what he has achieved.”
Under Tolin’s leadership, the Boll Weevils produced three-All-GAC players in 2017 — GAC Newcomer of the Year Derylton Hill and guards Cobe Goosby and Karim Mawuenyega.
“I’d like to thank Chancellor Hughes and John Harvey for their confidence in me and their support of the men’s basketball program,” said Tolin. “It’s gratifying to know that you’re appreciated and that our administration understands the importance of building stability in our athletics program. I’m looking forward to the continued success of our program.”
