Steve Gregory, a former player and long-time assistant coach at Mount Vernon Nazarene College, has been hired as the new head coach for the MVNC women's basketball team.
"I am excited about the opportunity that has been placed before me," said Gregory. "Coach (Eric) Ely did a great job over the last two seasons of getting the Lady Cougar basketball program back on the map."
"I am delighted to have Steve as our new women's basketball coach," said MVNC Athletic Director Scott Flemming. "He has contributed greatly to MVNC as a player and an assistant coach in both our men's and women's programs. Being his coach when he was playing and working with him closely the past several years, I am confident of his capabilities as a head coach. He has paid his dues as an assistant and now his time has come."
Gregory has spent the past seven years as an assistant basketball coach at MVNC - three years with the Lady Cougars and the past four years as the top assistant with the men's team. During this time, Gregory has played a significant role in the success of both teams. In his final year with the women's team during the 1993-94 season, the Lady Cougars posted a school-best 23-10 mark and won the National Christian College Athletic Association national title.
During his four seasons with the men's program, the Cougars compiled an 82-46 overall record (.641 winning percentage) for the best four-year mark in school history. This year, the team posted a school-best 27-7 record, won its first-ever Mid-Ohio Conference title, and advanced to the quarterfinals of the NAIA Division II national tournament.
As a player, Gregory was a four-year standout on the court for the Cougars from 1987-1991. He still holds several school records including the career scoring mark of 2,242 points. He helped his team to the first two 20-win seasons in school history. In fact, Gregory has been a part of every 20-win season in the history of MVNC men's and women's basketball either as a player or a coach.
"I will rely on my past experiences as an assistant in putting the new systems, both offensively and defensively, in place," said Gregory. "I will be reviewing a lot of videotape from last year's team along with talking to returning personnel in making important decisions regarding the future of the women's basketball program."
"After spending the last seven years as an assistant coach under two great mentors in Coach Flemming and former Coach Jeana Howald, I feel like that experience has seasoned me for this new appointment," Gregory added.
The women's basketball team posted a 19-18 overall record this past season and finished fourth at the NCCAA national tournament. The Lady Cougars graduated three seniors from the team, but all five starters are returning to provide a strong nucleus for Gregory to work with.
