Southwest Baptist University announced today the hiring of Clark Sheehy as the new men’s basketball head coach. He was introduced as the 13th head coach of men’s basketball today at 4:00 p.m. at the Jane and Ken Meyer Wellness Center.
"I’m honored to announce that Clark Sheehy is going to lead our men’s basketball program," SBU Director of Athletics Mike Pitts stated. "He has the character, chemistry, and competence to make a meaningful difference in our players’ lives. Under Clark’s leadership – we are confident that our players will have every opportunity to develop as leaders. He understands our mission – and our special culture. Clark is a proven winner. He has an outstanding record, and we are looking forward to lots of very exciting nights watching him lead the Bearcats in action."
Clark Sheehy comes to Southwest Baptist after spending the previous seven seasons as the head men’s basketball coach at John Brown University. Sheehy holds a career coaching record of 182-106 (.632) across nine seasons as head coach. Sheehy has coached six different All-Americans, while also coaching over 20 athletes that have moved on to play professional basketball.
While at JBU, Sheehy compiled a 154-77 record (.667), including leading the Golden Eagles to their first ever Sooner Athletic Conference (SAC) Tournament Championship in 2010 and their first regular season SAC Championship in 2013. Sheehy led JBU to three NAIA National Championships appearances, reaching the Elite 8 in 2010 and Sweet 16 in 2013, and was named the SAC Coach of the Year in 2011 and 2013.
Before his stint at John Brown, Sheehy spent two seasons as the head men’s basketball coach at Fresno Pacific (Calif.) from 2005-2007. During his time at FPU, Sheehy earned the first national ranking in school history as well as guiding the Sunbirds to only their second winning season in the previous ten years.
Sheehy also spent time as an assistant coach at Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas, coaching at the NCAA I school for five years from 2000-2005. Prior to TSU, Sheehy spent one season at NCAA II Texas A&M Commerce as a graduate assistant for the men’s basketball program.
Sheehy graduated from John Brown in 1999. At JBU he played four years under his father, SBU alum and former basketball player John Sheehy, while garnering All-Conference accolades in his junior and senior years. He then went on to complete his Master of Education at Texas A&M Commerce in 2000.
"I are very excited to add a coach with the proven track record that Clark Sheehy has had at John Brown and Fresno Pacific University," SBU President Dr. Pat Taylor stated. "We feel that he can continue the winning tradition at SBU, and remain highly competitive in the very challenging MIAA conference. I am also very excited about his commitment to church and the spiritual leadership he will bring to our team. We are looking forward to great things over the next years with our men’s basketball program."
"I am extremely excited to be the next head coach at Southwest Baptist. My family and I would like to thank President Taylor and SBU Director of Athletics Mike Pitts for their leadership and giving me this opportunity to lead this program. I know SBU has a rich tradition in men’s basketball and I can’t wait to get started to add more to that story. It’s a great time to be a Bearcat."
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