NORTH NEWTON, Kan. - The Bethel College Athletic Department has announced the appointment of NAIA Hall of Fame coach Rocky Lamar as its Interim Women's Basketball Coach.
 
"With his 2014 induction into the NAIA Hall of Fame and an impressive record of 803 wins as Head Men's Basketball Coach at MidAmerica Nazarene University, Rocky is an exceptional addition to our team," Interim Director of Athletics Collin Loutensock said. "We are thrilled to have such a distinguished coach leading our players to success." 
 
Lamar led the Pioneer Men to an NAIA National Championship appearance in 2001, an NAIA Division II National Championship in 2007 and five more NAIA Final Four appearances (2006, 2008, 2009, 2014 and 2016). 
 
"I'm thankful for the opportunity to get to help not only Bethel but these young women," Lamar said. "I have had the opportunity to visit with them already, I am excited to get going."
 
MidAmerica Nazarene earned 19 NAIA National Tournament appearances and won 13 Heart of America Athletic Conference Championships under the guidance of Lamar.
 
"Seeing the dilemma that arose from the previous coach leaving, I felt called to help these young ladies out," Rocky went on to say when he was asked about his interest in the position. "I know what these ladies had to be going through and I knew that I could provide them with some stability at this time."
 
Lamar was also named the Heart of America Athletic Conference Coach of the Year seven times (1989-90, 1991-92, 95-96, 99-00, 06-07, 11-12, and 2015-16). He was named NAIA & KBCA Coach of the Year for the 06-07 season, and KBCA Coach of the Year for the 08-09 season. 
 
"It's not every day that someone of Coach Lamar's caliber seeks you out to offer their services," Interim AD Loutensock said. "Rocky presented us with an opportunity to have success this season while also being patient in finding a quality leader for the future."
 
Rocky grew up in Iowa but called Olathe, Kansas and MidAmerica Nazarene University home since 1986. After Rocky's retirement from MNU following the 2021-22 season, he and his wife moved to Newton, Kan. where they currently reside.
 
Coach Lamar is a graduate of MNU and holds a Master of Educational Administration from Kansas University. He met his wife at MNU in 1973 and they were married one year later. They have two children, Chaz and Sarah - both graduates of MNU as well. 
 
The search for the next Head Women's Basketball Coach will begin back up in January of 2024.