I first mentioned this move back on April 25th (NAIA DIRT). It’s now official…Sam Kohnke has been named as the head basketball coach at NAIA Langston University. Here’s the release from LU:
Langston University Athletic Director Donnita Rogers is pleased to announce the appointment of Sam Kohnke as the 18th head men’s basketball coach for the Langston University Lions.
“Coach (Sam) Kohnke has had significant success creating a winning culture at his previous two universities and knows the preparation needed to play deep into March,” Rogers said. “We are excited to have him join our university and are eager to see him lead Langston Lion basketball for years to come.”
“I am beyond excited to be the next head men’s basketball coach at Langston University,” Kohnke said.”I’m grateful to President Ruth Ray Jackson and Athletic Director Donnita Rogers for their trust and belief in me. Langston University is a program with tremendous pride, tradition and purpose, and I’m ready to pour everything I have into our student-athletes and community. I have so much respect for what Coach Chris Wright built here, and I embrace the responsibility that comes with this role. My goal is to honor that foundation and continue building something everyone associated with Langston can be proud of.”
Kohnke most recently served one season as head coach at Oklahoma City University (OCU), where he led the Stars to a 21-11 record in 2025-26, an 18-7 mark in Sooner Athletic Conference games, and the SAC Tournament championship. The title marked OCU’s first conference tournament championship since 2019 and secured the program’s first NAIA National Tournament appearance since that same year. Kohnke took over the program in late July with just five players on the roster, inheriting a team coming off back-to-back 10-win seasons that did not qualify for the SAC Tournament.
“Coach Sam Kohnke is a proven winner with a demonstrated record of success, and we are excited to welcome him to the Langston University family,” President Ruth Ray Jackson said. “He brings the vision, discipline, and competitive excellence needed to lead an elite men’s basketball program and to build upon the strong foundation of success already in place.”
Prior to OCU, Kohnke spent four seasons as head coach at Central Baptist College (CBC), where he authored the most successful stretch in program history. He compiled a 91-38 overall record, became the program’s all-time wins leader, and led the Mustangs to three consecutive 21-win seasons. Over his final three years, his teams won 76 games, the most of any college basketball program in the state of Arkansas during that span.
Under Kohnke, CBC reached the NAIA National Tournament in each of his final two seasons and advanced to the NAIA Elite 8 in 2024. His 2023-24 team captured both the American Midwest Conference regular-season and tournament championships, and he was recognized as AMC Coach of the Year and recipient of the Raymond Bright Award as Conway’s top college coach. His 2024-25 team finished 17-1 in AMC regular season play, earned a share of the conference championship, and advanced to the NAIA Round of 32.
