The Bethel College Athletic Department has announced the removal of Women’s Basketball Head Coach Rocky Lamar‘s interim tag.
Coach Lamar led the Threshers to a 9-20 overall record with a 9-13 conference record. After being selected to finish 13th in the conference, Bethel finished 8th earning a KCAC Postseason Tournament bid.
“We are thrilled that Coach Lamar will remain our head women’s basketball coach,” stated Athletic Director Tim Swartzendruber. “The change in culture that he created in just one season was incredible.”
Lamar took over the program in September after the previous coach resigned right before the school year started to deal with family matters.
“I would like to thank Collin and Stacy for allowing me to coach this great group of young women,” Coach Lamar stated. “I was unsure how it was going to go after coaching men for 36 years, but this group made coaching them a lot of fun.”
Before Bethel, Rocky coached at MidAmerica Nazarene in Olathe, Kan. for 36 years. Lamar led the Pioneer Men to an NAIA National Championship appearance in 2001, an NAIA Division II National Championship in 2007 and five more NAIA Final Four appearances (2006, 2008, 2009, 2014 and 2016).
“I’m glad I was able to provide this group some stability after the unfortunate circumstances that they were forced to face right off the bat this season,” Rocky said. “I am excited to get to continue providing that stability for the foreseeable future.”
Assistant Coach David Bertholf will remain with Coach Lamar’s staff for next season as well and the duo will try to improve on their 8th-place finish in year two.
Swartzendruber went on to say, “Rocky’s success as a men’s head coach has translated over to our women. The future is bright for Thresher women’s basketball.”
