With the recent departure of Head Coach T.K. Smith, Associate Head Coach Al McCarron has been promoted to Head Coach of the Ecclesia College men’s basketball program beginning with the 2016-2017 season.
Coach McCarron is in his third year at Ecclesia College. Prior to joining the Royals, McCarron was an assistant at Northwood University in Cedar Hill, Texas and the head fresh/soph. and assistant varsity coach at Neoga High School in Neoga, Illinois.
While at Northwood University McCarron was involved in high school and junior college recruiting, practice design and emphasis, play development, skill development, scheduling, budget decisions, travel arrangements, driving, game day and game duties, strength and conditioning, Dakstats coordinator, study hall monitor, compliance with athletic director, various other duties. McCarron was instrumental in the development of Everett Pleasant who was selected 2nd team all Sooner Athletic Conference and honorable mention All-American NAIA Division I. Everett is now a starter for NCAA Division II Texas A&M Commerce after the closing of Northwood University in Cedar Hill. Northwood also doubled the win total in their second year of existence from 4 to 8 including a win over A&M Commerce NCAA Division II, ranked top ten, close call against NCAA Division I, North Texas, 5 point loss, and wins against 3 top 15 NAIA Division I opponents.
While at Neoga High School McCarron was under Jason Hanson, Coach of the Year, Mattoon Area, and the nephew of legendary Illinois High School Coach Dick Corn. As the head fresh/soph. coach, from 2009-2013, McCarron led the Indians to 2 freshman tournament championships in the Tuscola Fresh/Soph. Tournament while playing only freshman players. McCarron had duties including; coaching 2 games per night, daily practice, practice design, play development, player recommendation to varsity, strength and conditioning, summer camps, fund raising duties, parent conferences, and eligibility. McCarron was also the assistant varsity coach and was instrumental in leading the Indians to only the 3rd regional title in school history. McCarron duties included practice coaching, skill development, game duties, summer camps, strength and conditioning, and various other.
McCarron played collegiate my for NCAA DII at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville in Edwardsville, Illinois. He was a 4 year letter winner as a point guard and was named captain his junior and senior years.
McCarron has been married to his wife Tammy for 30 years and has two son’s Jordan, 25 and Kieffer, 23. McCarron knows that his identity is in Jesus Christ and believes the Holy Spirit indwells him each and every day to help others know their identity and fulfill their destiny.
Nathan Bean joins the Ecclesia College Men’s Basketball Program after serving the past three seasons as an assistant at Central Baptist College (2013-2016). While at Central Baptist, he was part of the recent rebuilding process that saw the win totals increase from five wins in the first season to fourteen wins in the last season. In addition to the improvements on the court, team academics improved greatly during his time at Central Baptist.
Before working as an assistant at Central Baptist, Nathan spent two years at Southeast Missouri State University working under head coach Dickey Nutt (2011-2013). During his first year at SEMO, he served as the Assistant to the Director of Operations and also served as Video Coordinator. In the second year, Nathan was promoted to the position of Director of Basketball Operations.
Nathan has a Bachelors Degree from Central Baptist and Southeast Missouri State and recently completed his Masters in Athletic Administration from Corncordia University at Irvine in California.
Nathan resides in Fayetteville with his wife Jessica and two young daughters, Tinuviel and Adelvee.
Ecclesia College participates in the NCCAA Division 1 Central Region.
