FOLLOW CRAIG DOTY INTRODUCTORY PRESS CONFERENCE
HOUSTON – HCU President Dr. Robert B. Sloan and Director of Athletics Steve Moniaci introduced the hiring of Craig Doty, a three-time nationwide champion coach and three-time nationwide coach of the 12 months, as the brand new head coach of males's basketball at James Sears Bryant. Coach on Friday afternoon and launched him at a press convention on Monday afternoon.
“We’re very excited to have Craig Doty come to HCU to guide our males's basketball program,” Sloan mentioned. “He has a outstanding report of constructing enthusiasm amongst college students and alumni, creating and graduating gamers, and producing profitable seasons. I’m assured that Coach Doty will make a big contribution to our storied traditions in males's basketball.”
“We’re thrilled to welcome Craig Doty, his spouse Alexys and his youngsters, Braylon, Calvin, Amery and Sienna, to the HCU household,” mentioned Moniaci. “Craig has demonstrated his capability to win at each stage he has coached whereas making certain his gamers excel within the classroom and of their group. Throughout our teaching search, it rapidly turned clear that Coach Doty was the perfect match for our program and college.” and we totally anticipate him to come back and obtain nice issues at HCU.”
“First, I wish to thank the Lord for this chance,” Doty mentioned. “I wish to thank HCU President Dr. Sloan, Director of Athletics Steve Moniacio, Assistant Athletic Director Stan Williamson, and James and Ann Bryant. All 5 of you had been instrumental in making it potential for my household to maneuver to Houston and be part of a prestigious establishment , like HCU, thanks to your belief in me and your imaginative and prescient to revamp and revitalize the lads's basketball program.
“I wish to thank and acknowledge Coach Ron Cottrell and his teaching employees who’ve spent the previous 33 years main the HCU basketball program,” Doty added. “This consists of longtime assistants Steven Key and Jude Kinne in addition to many different assistants. Ron and his employees dominated the NAIA and Purple River Convention days within the Nineteen Nineties and early 2000s. They fearlessly led this system again to the NCAA Division I stage, via probation, into the Nice West Convention and into the Southland Convention. It’s an honor to observe Coach Cottrell and construct on his work. The longer term success of this system is feasible due to the inspiration he laid, and I hope he can have fun our upcoming milestones with gratitude realizing the affect he has made.”
Doty involves HCU by means of Emporia State, the place he led the Hornets to a 97-76 total report over six seasons, together with a 23-9 report in 2022-23 for the perfect season in program historical past. He took over the ESU program for the 2018-19 season after a 9-19 efficiency the 12 months earlier than and led the Hornets to a 14-16 total report in his first season. ESU posted double-digit win totals in every of the subsequent two seasons, together with an 11-11 mark in Mid-American Intercollegiate Athletic Affiliation play throughout the Covid-impacted 2020-21 season.
The following two seasons noticed the Hornets publish back-to-back 20+ win seasons for the primary time since shifting to Division II. division in 1990 with a mixed report of 43-18 over two years. Doty led Emporia State to an at-large bid to the Division II Nationwide Match in 2022-23 together with this system's first-ever NCAA Match first-round win over Northern State.
Throughout his time at Emporia State, Doty coached this system's first All-American since 2003, Tray Buchanan, and led 16 gamers to Mid-American Intercollegiate Athletic Affiliation all-conference honors. Whereas at ESU, he additionally emphasised off-court enchancment and oversaw a full-point enchancment in workforce GPA, seeing the Hornets persistently publish a workforce GPA above 3.0. In 2022, ESU males's basketball was ranked first within the NCAA Division II Males's Basketball Helper Helper Report, which tracked NCAA student-athlete working hours for 2021–22.
“I wish to specific my gratitude to Emporia State to your help and love throughout our time at ESU,” Doty mentioned. “The Emporia group is particular. Not solely did Alexys and I increase our 4 youngsters locally, however we additionally watched your youngsters develop up. It was a particular time in our household's life that we’ll cherish eternally.”
“Thanks to my spouse and youngsters, dad and mom, assistants and our former student-athletes,” he continued. “Highschool athletics is all about folks and creating worth for others. Thanks for working with me each day as we try to make progress, affect our group and win video games and championships.”
Previous to Emporia State, Doty spent two seasons at Graceland College the place he posted a formidable 49-22 report over two seasons and led the Yellowjackets to the 2018 NAIA Division I Nationwide Championship whereas incomes the NAIA Nationwide Coach of the Yr, 2018 Don Meyer Award. and Hoopdirt.com NAIA Nationwide Coach of the Yr. Throughout that nationwide championship marketing campaign, Graceland posted a 29-10 report after a 20-12 report in its first season.
Doty spent 4 seasons as the top coach at Rock Valley Faculty previous to his transfer to Graceland, which included two NJCAA Division III nationwide titles in 2014 and 2016 together with a nationwide runner-up end in 2015. He was named the NJCAA Coaches Affiliation of Nationwide Coach of the Yr of the Yr in each 2014 and 2016 and led Rock Valley to a No. 1 nationwide rating for 729 consecutive days. His first 12 months in Rock Valley, the Golden Eagles posted a 19-16 report in Dota's first 12 months, 2012-13, after which totaled no less than 30 wins in every of the subsequent three seasons.
In 12 seasons as a head coach, Doty compiled a 259-126 total report with a 136-92 report in convention play. He has a complete of seven 20+ win seasons with a profitable report in 9 of his 12 seasons.
Previous to his first head teaching place at Rock Valley, Doty hung out as an assistant coach on the College of Sioux Falls, Riverland Group Faculty, Central Wyoming Faculty and his alma mater, Morningside Faculty. Doty graduated from Morningside Faculty with a BA in English with a minor in Enterprise Administration.