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For Immediate Release 16 January 2002
Southwest
Baptist Athletics Director Jim Middleton has announced the
resignation of Head Volleyball Coach Mark Pryor. Pryor has
resigned to become the associate head volleyball coach and
recruiting coordinator at Boise State in Boise, Idaho.
“We thank Mark for his time here and wish him well with
his new opportunities,” Middleton said. “The situation
is a good opportunity for him. We knew from the moment he
came here that he would be here a couple of years to help
establish a program. We know an opportunity such as this is
was what he wanted and we hope the best for him.”
Pryor, 30, came to SBU in August 2001 to help revitalize a
program that had had a losing season for the previous 14 years.
Since his arrival, the Bearcats have gone 0-32 in 2001 and
10-24 in 2002. Although SBU has not had a winning record under
Pryor, his effect is evident.
The young Southwest Baptist volleyball team, which started
three freshmen and a sophomore in addition to a senior and
a junior, rewrote several records in the SBU volleyball record
book. The 2002 volleyball squad won more matches overall than
in the previous two years combined, and three wins shy of
surpassing the overall win total of 12 that was garnered in
1999 by former coach Cindy Rear in her first season.
The team also became the No. 12 blocking team in Division
II with 2.83 per game. The Bearcats were first in blocking
in the MIAA over such national powerhouses as Central Missouri
State, Truman State (2002 National Runner-up), and Washburn
(Kan.) (2002 MIAA Champion). The team was also the best blocking
team in the region, placing them ahead of annual tournament
teams North Alabama, Harding (Ark.), Montevallo (Ala.), and
Henderson State (Ark.).
He received his bachelor’s degree in communications from
Baylor in 1995 and his master’s degree in public relations/communications
from Louisiana-Monroe in 1998.
Pryor will begin his new post on Feb. 1.
“I’m grateful for the time that I put in here,”
Pryor said. “I wish the program the best, however, at
this time, this move is much better for me career-wise, socially
and financially.”
SBU has already begun to search for the Bearcats’ next
head coach.
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