Arizona Christian University President Len Munsil and Vice-President for Athletics Don Mitchell announced the hiring of Odell Berry as the Firestorm’s head women’s basketball coach. Berry will be responsible for leading the Firestorm women’s basketball team into their second season as a member of the prestigious Golden State Athletics Conference, which produced the 2012-13 national champions in Westmont College.
Berry led the state title contending Liberty High School girls’ program in Peoria for the past four seasons, compiling a 71-43 record and averaging nearly 18 wins per season for a team that won only four games the year before he arrived. Berry’s most recent squad finished 22-7. In a high school, club and AAU coaching career spanning 35 years, Berry has coached at least 20 players who have gone on to play NCAA D-I basketball, many more who have played at other levels, and has coached state and national championship teams.
"We really wanted a coach who was committed to the women’s game, and to building a strong, consistent program at ACU," said President Munsil. "Coach Berry’s outstanding reputation in the women’s basketball community, his success in building programs, along with his maturity and Christian character, were the right combination for ACU as we compete in the best NAIA women’s basketball conference in the country."
"I believe that this position is one that is tailored specifically for me and for this point in my life," said Berry. "Though the school has been in the same location for a long time they have gone through a re-birth over the last few years since President Munsil has been at the helm. The women’s basketball program has been around for a while too, but I look at it as though it is still a start-up program. I can see tremendous opportunity for growth and development in the very near future. This is an opportunity to put my stamp on what I believe will become a very special women’s basketball program in the state of Arizona.
"ACU is one of only a handful of four-year universities in Arizona, the others are all NCAA D-I basketball programs," said Berry. "If a player is not a Division I candidate, and if they would like to continue their basketball career at a four year institution, we are pretty much the only game in town. We offer a quality education in a small school environment, and we play in a nationally recognized NAIA Division I conference. At this point it is my privilege to share the great news about the Lady Firestorm with the basketball players in this region of the country."
Berry earned his bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Olivet Nazarene University, where he played varsity basketball for four seasons, including on an NCCAA national championship squad. He and his wife Diane have been married 37 years, and have three adult children and one grandchild. Coach Berry will be assisted by long-time friend and coaching associate, Wes Picciotti. Coach Berry and Coach Picciotti have worked together coaching high school and club teams for nearly 10 years. Coach Berry will also be assisted by his son Doug Berry, a professor at Paradise Valley Community College, and former head girls’ basketball coach at Scottsdale’s Desert Mountain High School, where he compiled a 76-38 record over four seasons.
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