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Owens Community College has named David Clarke as head coach for the Express men’s basketball program. Clarke succeeds four-year Express Head Coach Kevin Skaggs, who recently accepted a basketball head coaching position at Mason High School in his hometown of Erie, Mich.
“I am proud to welcome David Clarke to Owens Community College and confident that he will continue the Express intercollegiate athletics’ longstanding tradition and commitment to providing the highest level of academic and athletic excellence for our men’s basketball program and student-athletes,” said Chris Giordano, Owens Dean of Student Life.
“I really believe that Owens Community College men’s basketball is one of the best intercollegiate programs in the country,” said Clarke. “I am really looking forward to representing Owens Community College and serving as head coach of the Express men’s basketball program.”
Clarke added, “The Owens men’s basketball program has a tremendous opportunity to educate each and every student-athlete so that they are prepared for situations they will encounter after leaving college. I also believe that the lessons learned on the basketball court, such as teamwork, competition, discipline, work ethic and sacrifice, are very valuable as they pursue their career aspirations.”
Clarke previously served as the assistant coach for men’s basketball at Mott Community College from 2009-11. During his tenure at Mott, he helped lead the program to an overall 59-7 record. Clarke’s responsibilities included assisting in all aspects of coaching, including recruiting and scouting upcoming opponents.
Additionally, he held positions in men’s basketball operations for Bowling Green State University from 2008-09 and for the University of Toledo from 2006-08. Clarke’s basketball coaching experience also includes serving as an assistant coach for men’s basketball at Northwood University, a student assistant coach for men’s basketball at Ferris State University and an AAU coach for the Grand Rapids Storm.
During his intercollegiate men’s basketball career (2002-04) at Ferris State University, Clarke helped lead the Bulldogs to the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference regular season championship. Prior to Ferris State, the Harbor Springs, Mich. native played two seasons at Siena Heights University. Additionally, he is a member of the National Association of Basketball Coaches and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes organization.
The Express men’s basketball team finished the 2010-11 season with a 10-21 overall record and a 3-9 mark (sixth place) in the OCCAC regular season standings. Owens lost to Columbus State Community College in the NJCAA Region XII Championships.
Clarke, a Maumee resident, holds a bachelor’s degree in business education from Ferris State University and a master’s degree in recreation and leisure studies from the University of Toledo.
Academic All-Conference
Thirty Owens Community College student-athletes have received Academic All-Conference honors by the Ohio Community College Athletic Conference (OCCAC) in recognition of their scholarly achievements for the 2010-11 academic year.
“Owens Community College is extremely proud to honor and recognize these student-athletes for their outstanding academic efforts within the classroom,” said Chris Giordano, Owens Dean of Student Life.
Selection criterion for the honored recipients is based upon achieving a minimum 3.30 grade point average.
Owens has been a member of the OCCAC since 1987. The other member schools comprising the OCCAC are Cincinnati State Technical and Community College, Columbus State Community College, Cuyahoga Community College, Edison State Community College, Lakeland Community College, Lorain County Community College and Sinclair Community College.
Local student-athletes receiving OCCAC Academic All-Conference honors include:
• Brooks Gradner (associate of science, general concentration), Bowling Green (golf), 3.62 GPA.
• Sean Kaighin (adolescence education), Clay (soccer), 4.0.
• Kasey Graham (early childhood education), Clay (softball), 3.75.
• Alaina Haubert (pre-nursing), Gibsonburg (softball), 3.61.
• Kristen Roznoski (social work), Cardinal Stritch (softball), 3.43.
• Hallie Thompson (early childhood education), Clay (softball), 3.58.
• Elizabeth Weber (early childhood education), Oak Harbor (softball), 3.44.
• Alyssa LaVoy (biology), Eastwood (volleyball), 4.0.
Owens soccer
Prospective athletes interested in playing intercollegiate men’s or women’s soccer for Owens Community College are invited to open tryouts July 30. The men’s tryouts will take place from 10 a.m. to noon while the women’s will occur from 12-2 p.m.
Owens men’s soccer is led by Coach Art Johnson and completed its twelfth season as an Owens athletic program in 2010. The Express finished with an 11-10 overall record. Johnson’s team finished in third place in the final Ohio Community College Athletic Conference/Michigan Community College Athletic Conference (10-6 record) standings. Owens lost to Ancilla College in the first round of the NJCAA Region XII Championships.
The new women’s soccer program is led by first-year Coach Mary Whisler. In August 2010, Owens announced it was expanding its intercollegiate athletic programs to include a new women’s team. The Express program officially begins NJCAA competition with the start of the upcoming 2011 fall season after serving as a club sport this past year.
The Express women’s soccer program is a Division II member of the NJCAA. Owens will primarily compete against other colleges and universities from Ohio, Michigan and Pennsylvania, including Cincinnati State, Lorain, Schoolcraft, Delta and Mercyhurst North East, among others. Owens’ first match in team history will occur on Aug. 28 against Mercyhurst North East.
With the start of the 2011 fall season, the Express women’s soccer program becomes the eighth intercollegiate athletic program offered at Owens. The seven other sports include men’s baseball, women’s softball, men’s golf, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, men’s soccer and women’s volleyball.
Scholarships are still available and prospective Owens Express student-athletes must be high school graduates. Call 567-661-7938 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, ext. 7938.
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