A Historical Endeavor

Women’s Softball Coach and Men’s Basketball Coach. Ike stated, “These leaders have been instrumental in leading the college forward in the athletic endeavor.”

As an ASUN alumnus, I am always excited to share the news of growth and new opportunities offered by my alma mater. I recently had the opportunity to speak with Ike Wheeler, Vice Chancellor for Leadership and Community Engagement, about the addition of men’s and women’s sports at ASUN. It is with his assistance that I bring you the following article.

When I asked Ike for a brief history on ASUN he replied with a wonderfully in depth paper he had written for a previous occasion in September 2022. I believe this one paragraph sums it all up quite well, “Arkansas State University-Newport looks vastly different emerging into the third decade of the twenty-first century than it did as a small vocational technical school, or a branch campus of a larger twoyear college. New facilities house state-of-the art programs; new faces share the eagerness and optimism connected to opportunity; new initiatives challenge and draw the very best faculty, staff and students have to offer. However, some things remain the same; the empowerment of students to obtain their dreams; the chance for young professionals to achieve career goals unimaginable; the desire to impact positive results for shareholders and the community.” While the paper was full of stories that tell the journey the school has been on to arrive where it is today, the history itself is not my focus in this article as much as the making of it. With the welcoming of sports to ASUN the journey of history making continues.

Ike was quick to note, “ASU-Newport has always been passionately interested in offering student involvement options, coupled with community participation. From the college’s inception, ASUN has looked for ways to encourage student life.” A task force was enacted in the fall of 2022, led by Chancellor Johnny Moore, comprising a broad spectrum of levels of the college to investigate athletic opportunities. Ike shared, “The “think tank” bantered many ideas and involvements, and from a grass roots perspective investigated which options worked best for ASUN.” The decision was made to add Men’s Basketball and Women’s Softball effective the fall 2023 semester. In December, 2022 ASU System Board of Trustees approved this endeavor and an application was sent to the National Junior College Athletic Association, which gave its approval in January, 2023. Plans were then underway to market and secure athletic leadership for this new endeavor. In March, three pivotal positions were added, an Athletic Director,

Let’s take a moment to meet these new leaders. They each bring their own wealth of knowledge, experiences, and excitement to the newly formed ASUN sports program.

Brad Phillips is the Athletic Director. He is a 1993 graduate of Maynard High School, 2002 graduate of Williams Baptist College, with a graduate degree from Emporia State. Brad is a resident of Pocahontas. He has been Athletic Director and Men’s basketball coach at Southeastern Baptist College, men’s and women’s basketball coach at UA Cossatot and women’s basketball coach at Crowley’s Ridge. Brad noted, “The athletic arena provides a tremendous proving ground for students. Each day they perfect skills they will use for a lifetime.”

Kevin Pearce is the Women’s Softball coach. He is a 1998 graduate of Newport High School, where he played basketball, baseball and football. He is a 2002 graduate of ASU with a degree in Sports Management. Kevin is married to his wife Shannon, and they have three daughters. He is one of the voices of the Newport Greyhounds and recently received the Sully Award in recognition for his involvement with high school athletics throughout Arkansas. Kevin shared, “There is nothing more exciting than molding a young person and exposing them to valuable leadership and team building skills. Athletics accomplishes this task. I could not be more excited.”

Logan Nutt is the Men’s Basketball coach. He is a 2007 graduate of Jonesboro High School where he participated in basketball, football and track and field. He is a 2011 A-State graduate, and in 2013 obtained his graduate degree from Southeast Missouri State. His coaching career includes Culver Stockton, Woodland High School, Doniphan High School and Crowley’s Ridge Academy. Logan shared, “Athletics brings so much to an educational setting. The lessons learned both on and off the field are immeasurable, and create a life-long imprint.”

ASUN will begin softball in late summer with the season extending through the middle of November. Basketball will begin October 1 and extend through February/March. Softball will resume in late January and extend through the first of May.

Chancellor Johnny Moore is very excited about athletics at ASU-Newport. “The experiences and community engagement opportunities provided by Junior College athletics remain immeasurable. From every conceivable perspective, the trajectory and history of ASU-Newport will be forever altered in the most positive of ways by the addition of women’s and men’s athletic opportunities.”

It is without a doubt that the addition of athletics has generated great community interest and excitement. In closing Ike noted that ASU-Newport has consistently enjoyed tremendous community support. “The success of ASUN is directly attributed to the benevolence of community partners. We would be so remiss without remembering our ASU System Board of Trustees, President Chuck Welch as well as our ASUN Athletics Task Force for their hard work and support as we undertake this historical endeavor.” N