No stranger to the collegiate basketball scene in the state of Oklahoma, Bob Battisti has been tabbed as the 14th head men’s basketball coach in Southwestern Oklahoma State University history.

SWOSU Athletic Director Todd Thurman was enthusiastic about the hiring of Battisti, a former counterpart of his on the sideline. “We are very excited about Coach Battisti becoming a part of the SWOSU family. His competitive spirit and drive to succeed make him a great fit for our men’s basketball program,” Thurman said. “Bob has the proven record that is needed to lead our team up against the Great American Conference and at a national level.”

Battisti most recently spent two seasons as an assistant coach at Oklahoma Christian University in Edmond, helping the Eagles to a record of 40-25. In 2012, OCU won the Sooner Athletic Conference tournament title, giving the program its first postseason basketball title in 30 years, and this past season they reached the National Christian College Athletic Association championship game.

“I’d like to thank Todd Thurman, the search committee and President Randy Beutler for giving me this wonderful opportunity to lead the basketball program here at Southwestern Oklahoma State,” Battisti said upon his appointment at SWOSU. “I’ve known Todd for many, many years and I think he is a great leader who truly wants what’s best for his coaches and programs. The opportunity to work for an athletic director like that immediately drew my interest to SWOSU.”

He will take over the Bulldog program after coaching alongside the winningest head coach in Oklahoma collegiate basketball history, Dan Hays, at Oklahoma Christian. “I worked for a tremendous guy and I owe a great debt of gratitude to Dan Hays because he is simply the best,” Battisti said. “He took me in and gave me a chance to get back involved with the game. What a great man and I owe him a big ‘thank you.’”

Prior to his stint at OCU, Battisti spent 25 years at Northwestern Oklahoma State, coaching the men’s basketball team for 21 seasons before taking over as the school’s athletic director for four years.

As the school’s athletic director, Battisti launched the ‘Vision for Victory’ fundraising campaign which netted $2.4 million for major athletic facility improvements. He also led Northwestern’s efforts to seek membership into NCAA Division II.

He took over the men’s basketball team at Northwestern in 1986 and quickly turned the program into a consistent winner. Battisti’s teams, often known for their intense defensive style, posted a record of 374-265 over his 21-year tenure. He led the Rangers to six conference titles and finished in the NAIA Top 25 seven times. For his efforts, Battisti was named a conference coach of the year five times and he was selected as the NAIA National Coach of the Year by the Basketball Times in 1994.

His teams also advanced to the NAIA National Tournament on six occasions, including an appearance in the national quarterfinals in 2007. His best year at Northwestern was the 1992-93 season, when Battisti led NWOSU to a 29-2 record and No. 2 national ranking entering the national tournament.

Battisti went to Northwestern after serving two seasons as an assistant coach at the University of Minnesota on a staff that included veteran NBA coach, Flip Saunders. He went to Minnesota following a stint as the head coach at Lakewood Community College in Minnesota where he posted a record of 35-31 in three seasons. His coaching career started at Bethany Lutheran where he was an assistant coach for three seasons from 1978-81.

A native of Warren, Mich., Battisti received his bachelor’s degree in Health and Physical Education from Minnesota State University-Mankato in 1981 before earning his master’s degree in Education from the University of Minnesota-Minneapolis in 1985. He and his wife Shelly have one son, Cooper, 17.

THE BATTISTI FILE

Coaching Career

Head Coaching Experience: (24 years)

Record: 409-296 (.580)

1986-2007: Northwestern Oklahoma State (Head Coach)

Record: 374-265 (.585)

1981-84: Lakewood Community College (Head Coach)

Record: 35-31 (.530)

Other Coaching Experience:

2011-2013: Oklahoma Christian (Assistant Coach)

1984-86: University of Minnesota (Assistant Coach)

1978-81: Bethany Lutheran College (Assistant Coach)

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