Women's Bowling | 1/16/2024 12:56:00 PM
McPHERSON, Kan. — Mitchell Whitehead has been named the first women's bowling head coach in McPherson College history, Director of Athletics Josh Daume announced Tuesday.
"We're excited to have Coach Whitehead lead our Women's Bowling program at McPherson College," Daume said. "His passion for the sport is contagious, and he will be a great representative for our institution. We were looking for someone who has recruited at this level and knows what it takes to put together a winning team and Coach Whitehead was clearly the right person for the job. We can't wait to have Mitchell and his wife join the McPherson community and start this exciting chapter in McPherson College Athletics history."
Whitehead comes to McPherson following a nearly four-year stint as an assistant coach at Oklahoma Christian University, an NCAA Division II program in Edmond, Okla. He was tasked with leading recruiting, as well as practice/workout plans, creating bowling knowledge class plans, and leading JV team practices.
During his time with the Eagles, Whitehead helped lead the men's team to multiple top 10 final national rankings along with one trip to the ITC national championship tournament in 2021-22. He also assisted in leading the women's team to a top 6 final national ranking in 2022-23 as well as coaching one All-American and National Rookie of the Year.
"I am very honored and excited to be joining McPherson College as the first Women's Head Bowling Coach," Whitehead said. "I want to thank president Schneider, Josh Daume, and everybody involved in the hiring process for giving me this opportunity. Every person I have interacted with at McPherson College has been very welcoming and made me feel right at home. There are a lot of exciting things happening at McPherson College and I can't wait for Women's Bowling to add to that. My wife, Diane, and I look forward to joining the Bulldog family and I can't wait to get started building the program!"
Prior to arriving at OCU, Whitehead spent three seasons as a graduate assistant bowling coach at West Texas A&M University in Canyon, Texas.
Bowling was added as an NAIA championship sport in 2019-2020 and continues to grow in popularity. Fellow KCAC schools Avila, Ottawa, Kansas Wesleyan, and Saint Mary currently offer women's bowling as a varsity sport, while over 50 schools across the NAIA sponsor the sport.
Whitehead earned a bachelor's degree in Athletic Training in 2017, and is currently pursuing his master's degree in Sport Management, both from West Texas A&M.
