Following up on something that I mentioned on Twitter this weekend. Doug Novak’s resignation at D3 Bethel is now official. Also, the P5 school mentioned is Mississippi State…
Bethel University men’s basketball head coach Doug Novak announced that he is resigning his post after eight seasons with the Royals. Novak leaves Arden Hills to become the associate head women’s basketball coach at a NCAA Division I Power Five institution.
“It’s by far the best and most rewarding job I have ever had in my 30 years of coaching,” said Novak. “Leaving Bethel is one of the toughest and craziest decisions I have made. Actually, coming to Bethel was the craziest. While I am looking forward to sharing the wisdom gained over the last eight years with a different team, there is another part of me that hurts knowing I won’t be able to experience the Bethel hallways on a daily basis with my best friends.”
Novak was named head coach back on June 4, 2013 and will depart with the highest winning percentage of any Bethel basketball coach with a 131-68 (.658) mark. He helped lead the Royals to a share of the program’s first-ever MIAC regular-season championship in 2016-17 before winning the MIAC Playoffs over Saint John’s in front of a sold out Robertson Center a week later. Novak and the Royals earned the program’s second-ever NCAA tournament bid, the first since 1991.
“Coach Novak was instrumental in building Bethel basketball into a perennial MIAC contender,” said Director of Athletics Greg Peterson. “I am grateful for his investment into Bethel, the program and for how he elevated our entire department in many ways. We wish him, Tonya, and their family God’s best as they head for this new adventure.”
Bethel posted identical 21-7 records in both the 2017 and 2018 seasons, tying the program record for wins previously set in 2002. He helped lead BU to seven consecutive MIAC Playoff appearances, advancing to the semifinals six times and the championship game three times.
Under Novak, the Royals recorded program records for steals in a single season (244), longest winning streak versus four-year schools (11), made 3-pointers in a game (23) and most steals in a game (17).
The Royals produced 17 MIAC All-Conference selections and five Honorable Mention All-Conference selections during Novak’s tenure. In addition, he helped BU become the first team in MIAC history to have two freshmen awarded All-Conference accolades in consecutive seasons.
In 2015, BU standout Kyle Zimmermann was named the MIAC MVP along with NABC First Team All-American and D3hoops.com Third Team All-American. Other individual standouts include the program’s career leader in field goal percentage, Derek Magnuson, and Granger Kingland who is the all-time leader in 3-point field goals made.
“The alignment, intent and purpose within Bethel are amazing,” Novak stated. “The long tradition of coaches growing each other is a model for all athletic departments. I feel honored to have been able to work side-by-side with some of the greatest coaches who I can call friends.”
A national search for his replacement as head coach will begin immediately.
