On 5/24, I blogged that I had heard Tulane assistant Doug Novak was involved with the job at Bethel (http://hoopdirt.com/blog/8939e5a3/daily-dirt-5-24-13/…). It has now been made official – here is the official release:
Bethel University Athletic Director Bob Bjorklund announced today the hiring of Doug Novak as the new head coach for the Royals men’s basketball team. Novak, who has spent the last seven years as a head assistant coach at the Division I level, will begin his duties on June 15.
“Doug Novak is a gifted leader who will pour himself into the holistic development of the young men on the basketball team,” said Bjorklund. “I am thrilled to have him as a part of our athletics staff. He has remarkable insights into coaching that will be beneficial for the entire department, as he has coached at the Division I, Division II, and Junior College levels.”
Novak comes to Bethel after spending the last three seasons at Tulane University in New Orleans, where he helped the Green Wave record a 50-48 mark in three seasons, which included two trips to the Conference USA Championships and an invitation to the 2013 CollegeInsider.com Tournament.
Prior to Tulane, Novak spent four years as the head assistant at The Citadel, where he and the Bulldog staff helped turn a program that was 10-21 in 2005 to 20-13 in just three years.
In all, Novak has acquired 23 years of coaching, which also includes 10 years as a head coach at Iowa Western Community College and Anderson University (S.C.). While at Anderson, Novak helped lead the Trojans to their first winning season as a member of the NCAA Division II and their first Carolinas-Virginia Athletic Conference (CVAC) Championship in program history.
Novak also played tennis in college and was a member of the No. 1-ranked Volunteers at the University of Tennessee.
“I am excited about the future of Bethel men’s basketball under his direction,” said Bjorklund. “His passion for integrating faith and learning is evident in his approach to building character amidst a thriving team culture.”
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