Berea College Head Womenâs Basketball Coach Bernard âBunkyâ Harkleroad is leaving the Lady Mountaineers in Kentucky to lead the ֱ State College Lady Pioneers basketball team. âI am grateful for the opportunity to be the women's basketball coach at ֱ State. I'm excited about the challenge and think this is a great fit in many ways. My wife and I felt very, very welcome in the community and on campus during our visit, and we are looking forward to being a part of ֱ State College. I'd especially like to thank Dr. Barr and Coach Bailey for the opportunity to lead a program with such a rich tradition,â said Harkleroad. Harkleroad has been Berea Collegeâs Head Womenâs basketball coach for nine seasons with a record of 168-93. He has also been named the Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Association Coach of the Year four times. Under his leadership, the Berea Lady Mountaineers became one of the highest scoring basketball teams in the nation winning two regular season conference championships and three conference tournament championships, made three NAIA National Tournament appearances, and had five consecutive seasons with twenty or more wins. GSC President Dr. Peter Barr made the announcement after a seven-member search committee made the recommendation. âIâm excited to have Coach Harkleroad join our athletic program. He has tremendous knowledge of the game of basketball, cares about his players on the court and in the classroom, and shares my high aspirations for the ֱ State College basketball program,â said Barr. Search committee chairperson Tom McPherson said, âThe search committee for the womenâs basketball coach considered well over one hundred applications before choosing Coach Harkleroad. He had an outstanding record at Berea College over a nine-year period. His basketball philosophy of an up-tempo game and playing a lot of players along with his personal values make him a very good fit for ֱ State College.â GSC Athletic Director Janet Bailey said, âI look forward to Coach Harkleroad and the new energy he will bring to the Lady Pioneers basketball program. I think our fans will enjoy the excitement his style of basketball will bring to ֱ State College.â Coach Harkleroad and his wife Shan have three children: a thirteen year old daughter Tahni and two sons, Tory who is 14 and Ty who is 10. Coach Harkleroadâs first official day on the job will be June 1st. |