West Texas A&M Athletic Director Michael McBroom announced Thursday that Mark Kellogg, one of the most successful women’s basketball coaches in Division II, has been named the new Lady Buff head women’s basketball coach. Kellogg is scheduled to be introduced at a press conference on Monday, April 29 at 4 p.m. in The Legends Club at the Jack B. Kelley Student Center and it is open to the public.
“I have followed Mark’s success closely over the past several years and have always felt he would be a great fit for us if the opportunity ever arose,” McBroom said. “He has proven himself to be one of the top coaches in the country by producing teams that win at an impressive pace, while excelling in the classroom. His players love to play for him, his opponents respect him and his peers call it a privilege to work with him.”
Kellogg, 36, a native of Dallas, has a 188-59 record in eight seasons as head coach. Kellogg put Fort Lewis College (Colo.) on the national map as he went an impressive 173-46 in seven seasons from 2005-2012, including a national championship game appearance in 2009-2010. Upon his arrival at Fort Lewis, he immediately transformed the program in what was supposed to be a rebuilding year. Instead, he went 16-13 overall with a Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference West Division title (a 12-7 RMAC record) and a berth in the NCAA Tournament in 2005-06.
In his second season, he posted a 14-13 record and an 11-8 mark in the RMAC and went 2-1 in the NCAA Tournament. It started the most successful five-year run in program history. A strong recruiting class in 2007, including five high school seniors, paved the way for Kellogg’s success as the 2007 class won three straight RMAC regular season and West Division titles, going 89-12.
The 2007-08 team went 26-4 which began a string of five-straight 20-plus win seasons. His most successful season came in 2009-2010 as the Skyhawks went a school-best 35-4 and finished as NCAA Division II runner-up. The 2010-11 and 2011-12 teams won the RMAC tournament championships as Kellogg made the NCAA Tournament each of his seven seasons.
He was named RMAC Coach of the Year three times (2008-2010) and was named WBCA Region Coach of the Year twice (2010 and 2011). During his tenure at Fort Lewis, he coached two All-America players and a pair of RMAC Players of the Year. Not only did his teams excel on the court, but also in the classroom as his 2010-11 squad ranked first nationally in the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Academic Top 25 and his teams had an overall team GPA of 3.30 in 14 semesters.
“Over the last week, I learned more about his values, principles and the importance of his family to his success,” McBroom added. “There is no question in my mind that he is an absolute great fit for us in every way. I am thrilled for our players, our fans and our community.”
Kellogg comes to WT from Northwest Missouri State where he was the head coach this past season as he guided the Bearcats to a 15-13 record and an 8-10 mark in the Mid-American Intercollegiate Athletics Association. Prior to his arrival at NMSU, the Bearcats were 6-22 and 4-16 in the MIAA the previous season.
From 2001-2005, Kellogg was at Montana State University in Bozeman, Mont. During the 2004-05 season, he was promoted to assistant head coach and offensive coordinator. Kellogg helped guide the Bobcats to two Big Sky Conference championships, three appearances in the conference tournament and a bid to the Women’s National Invitation Tournament (WNIT).
Kellogg, who served as an assistant men’s basketball coach under Rick Cooper from 1998-2000, helped lead the Buffs to a championship and runner-up finish in the Lone Star Conference, respectively, and helped guide the team to the NCAA Division II postseason in 1999.
He received his master’s degree in sports and exercise science from West Texas A&M in 2000. Kellogg graduated in 1998 from Austin College with a bachelor’s degree in communication arts and physical education.
“It is exciting to have Mark return to the WTAMU family,” University President Dr. Patrick O’Brien said. “In his previous coaching positions, he has established considerable success on and off the court, both athletically and academically. Mark will continue the proud tradition of Lady Buff basketball and we are honored to welcome the Kellogg family to Canyon.”
