Clarksville, Ark.- Seven assistant coaches have been hired at the University of the Ozarks, announced athletics director Dave De Hart on Tuesday.
The baseball program added 2005 Ozarks graduate Justin Jennings and veteran Bob Preli to the staff. Jennings has been named the junior varsity head coach and will also serve as an assistant coach to the varsity team. Jennings earned his bachelors’ degree in physical education and lettered for three seasons under current head coach Jimmy Clark. He will work with infielders and outfielders. He spent the 2005-2006 season at Peru State College in Nebraska as the assistant coach and recruiting coordinator. He was responsible for infielders and catchers at Peru State and had two of his players named to the All-Conference team last year. He was the head coach of the Nebraska Sluggers, a premier 18-and-under team, during the 2006 season. A native of Hackett, Ark., he is a member of the American Baseball Coaches Association. Preli was an associate major league scout for the Cleveland Indians from 1992-1993 and was a professional baseball instructor with the Doyle Brothers Baseball Academy from 1994-1995. Preli’s coaching experience includes stints at the high school and American legion level. He was also a member of the coaching staff for several USA Junior Olympic teams. He played Rookie ball in the New York-Pen league for the Cleveland minor league affiliate in 1971 and advanced to “A” ball the following spring. He will work with the catchers and hitters at Ozarks. A native of Washington D.C., Preli recently retired as a Master Chief Petty Officer with the Coast Guard. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Regents College in New York. He and his wife Patty Ann have been married for 31 years and are the parents of four children and one grandson. The men’s basketball program added Alex Hausladen to their staff. Hausladen comes to Ozarks after working as the University of Arkansas student men’s basketball and video manager. He served the past two seasons as the head manager of the NCAA tournament-qualifying Razorbacks. During his tenure at Arkansas, his duties included video and equipment management as well as assisting with practice, scouting and player development for head coach Stan Heath. Hausladen has been a summer basketball camp coach with seven NCAA I programs including University of Arkansas, University of Louisville, University of Wake Forest, Marquette University, University of Wisconsin, University of Maryland and Lipscomb University. A native of Milwaukee, Wis., he earned his bachelor’s degree in history from U of A in 2006. 2006 Ozarks graduate Becky Kimball was named the women’s assistant basketball coach. Kimball, of Clarksville, was a four-year lettermen for the Lady Eagles and was one of the top three-point shooters at Ozarks, finishing her career ninth in three-point field goals made (62) and eighth in three-point attempts (220). She received her bachelor’s degree in business administration. She is a graduate of St. Paul High School where she was a two-time All-State selection. 2006 Ozarks graduate Cyrus Smith was named the assistant men’s and women’s soccer coach while Trace Hollis was promoted to associate head men’s coach. Smith joins the men’s and women’s soccer programs after playing four seasons for the Eagles. Smith was a four-year starter and earned All-Conference honors in three of those seasons. He ended his career tied for fifth all-time in most games played (78) at Ozarks. The Jackson, Miss., native earned his bachelor’s degree in communications. Hollis has been with the Eagles coaching staff for five years, helping the team to a conference record six straight playoff appearances. Hollis played six years professionally, including stints in the Major League Soccer and in the “A” league as a goalkeeper. Additionally, he played three years with the world champion Sacramento Knights. Hollis served as assistant coach at Neosho (Kansas) Junior College prior to Ozarks. He received his bachelor’s degree in education from Ozarks in 2006. John Newman was hired as the assistant women’s softball coach. Newman was the assistant coach and junior varsity head coach at NCAA III power Methodist College in North Carolina from 2003-2005. Newman helped the Monarchs to the USA Conference championship in 2003 where he oversaw a record-setting pitching staff. His staff set the NCAA III saves (9) record in 2003. One of his players was named to the All-Region team that season. While at Methodist, he served in the capacity of pitching, catching and outfield coach. Newman’s additional coaching experience includes stops at Terry Sanford High School (N.C.) and Spencer High School (Ga.). He most recently served as the assistant coach for the 18U Missouri Explosion. Newman has attended the NFCA Coaches College. He also has been a guest instructor at various camps and clinics around the country to include NCAA’s YES clinics. He is a member of the National Fastpitch Coaches Association. Travis Smith joins the athletic staff as the men’s and women’s assistant tennis coach. Smith played at University of Hawaii from 2003-2005 and for the National Junior College Athletic Association national champion Tyler Junior College Apaches for two seasons. The Apache won back-to-back national championships (2002 and 2003) during Smith’s time there. He was team co-captain during the 2003 season. He was a camp counselor at TJC for five years, teaching a number of advanced players. The Kaufman, Texas, native played at Terrell Christian Academy helping the team to a state championship in 1998 and 2001.
Topics: Athletics