Oklahoma Wesleyan University

Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise
Friday, April 29, 2011 12:25 PM CDT

New Oklahoma Wesleyan University men’s basketball coach Jason Beschta has proven himself both a fighter and survivor during his 10 years as a college basketball assistant coach.

And, a climber.

In less than 10 years he’s risen from a guy who voluntarily showed up every day at 7 a.m. practices at Baylor University just to try to help out the coaching staff, to becoming head coach at one of the hottest NAIA Division II men’s programs in the nation.

Referring to Beschta as the “best of the bunch,” among 80 applicants — and six finalists — OKWU President Dr. Everett Piper, on Thursday, named Beschta as the new Eagles men’s head basketball coach.

“I’m just so excited… my wife, Becca, and I are really excited after getting the news last night,” said Beschta, who has served the past three seasons as an assistant coach/recruiting coordinator in the highly-success Cedarville (Ohio) program.

Beschta, whose other coaching stops have included Bryan College (Tenn.), Baylor and Minnesota State University Moorehead, is the Eagles’ third new head coach in eight years.

He takes place of Donnie Bostwick, who compiled a 120-20 record and one national championship (NAIA-II, 2009) during his four-year tenure. As was the case with Bostwick, when he became OKWU head coach in 2007, Beschta is stepping into his first college head coaching job.

Beschta assumes the position highly qualified, Piper said during the 20-to-25-minute press conference held in the second floor lobby of the Mueller Sports Center.

The range of applicants included a former NCAA Division I coach who had guided a team into the March Madness tournament to a coach with 370 career wins, including a victory at Rupp Arena against Kentucky.

Piper thanked his athletic director Kirk Kelley, vice president John Means, new women’s head basketball coach Mark Molder, interim men’s head coach Jamie Peterson and Roger Skelly for helping expedite the hiring process, which started earlier this month after Bostwick’s resignation in order to take the head coaching job at Southwestern Assemblies of God.

From the 80 applicants for the position, the search committee narrowed the list to six. But, Beschta’s credentials, and energy and vision, stood out.

“He was the first — and only — one we made an offer to,” said Piper.

Beschta’s coaching resume began with a stint in 2001-02 at Bryan College, where he served as an assistant coach. He then went to Baylor to continue his education and nurtured a burning desire to continue coaching. After proving to the coaching staff there he could be a credible asset, Beschta served for two seasons as a volunteer assistant and graduate assistant coach. His tenure at Baylor spanned a complete coaching change in 2003, when Scott Drew was brought in to rebuild a program battered by tragedy and scandal.

Following his Baylor years, Beschta headed north to Minnesota State University Moorehead, a NCAA-II program. Working as an assistant coach/recruiting coordinator, he made his longest stop (2004-08). During Beschta’s first year there, Moorehead doubled its win total from the previous year (from eight to 16). He also worked as the academic coordinator.

In 2008, he headed to Cedarville University, and helped the program there make three-straight appearances in the NAIA-II national tournament. Beschta’s time at Cedarville saw the team post a 73-26 win-loss record and win a conference championship. The program also boasted three All-American honors and six All-Conference Players.

Beschta’s coaching journey also brought him home — twice. An Ohio product, he played at Worthington Christian High School, being named All-Conference in 1996-97. He then played at Bryan College — where he later coached. Beschta still is the No. 2 all-time leading scorer in Bryan history (2,138 points), and second in career three-pointers made (432). He helped power Bryan to its first conference title.

A follow-up article with more of Beschta’s comments and experiences is planned Sunday.