Bechler Tabbed as Newberry Women’s Basketball Assistant, Head Women’s Cross Country Coach

NEWBERRY, S.C. - The Newberry College athletic department announced today the hiring of Jamy Bechler as the new head women's cross country coach and assistant women's basketball coach. Bechler most recently held the position of head women's basketball coach at NCAA Division III member LeTourneau University in Longview, Texas, for four seasons. This will be his tenth season in collegiate coaching.

At LeTourneau, he earned Coach of the Year honors from both the Division III American Southwest Conference East Division and the National Christian Collegiate Athletic Association's (NCCAA) Central Region for the 2002-03 season. Bechler took a LadyJacket team projected to be last in the division to the 16-member conference tournament semifinals.

"It is exciting to have the opportunity to work with such an up-and-coming coach and program as what Newberry has," said Bechler. "I believe in the vision that Coach Brink has for Newberry basketball. He has done great things in turning this program around in his two years. He has a lot of passion and enthusiasm for the game and this program."
"We had several highly qualified individuals apply for this position, but Coach Bechler stood out as the top candidate," Newberry head women's basketball coach Jason Brink stated. "Coach Bechler has an outstanding mind for the game of basketball. He is a tireless worker and will fit in very well with our system here at Newberry. We are very fortunate to have someone with his credentials on our staff. The basketball players on our team will greatly benefit from his knowledge and enthusiasm for the game."
Bechler (pronounced BECK-ler) developed two NCCAA All-Americans, seven All-Region players, and 12 All-ASC honorees while at LeTourneau, in addition to breaking six conference records and one national record (most made three-point field goals in a game-18). His teams set new school marks in seven categories, and players under his tutelage set 11 individual school records and nine conference records. Off the court, his team maintained a 3.0 GPA or better every semester, and ten players were recognized as ASC All-Academic first team members.

Bechler added, "I look forward to working with Coach Brink and the excellent young ladies in our program. I am honored to be a part of the Newberry College team. From the President, Dr. Zais to our Athletic Director, Andy Carter to Coach Brink, I am impressed with the vision and leadership they provide the institution."
Prior to his four seasons at LeTourneau, Bechler was the assistant men's basketball coach at Anderson (Ind.) University. During his time there, the Ravens compiled three straight winning seasons, the first time in 20 years such a feat had been accomplished. Bechler served as the recruiting coordinator and coached the post players, one of whom earned first team All-American status.

While obtaining his master's degree in physical education at Kent State University, Bechler worked as an administrative assistant for the Division I program. He coordinated film exchange, video editing, and marketing and promotions for the team, including coordination of Kent's "Midnight Madness" season kickoff in 1997. In addition to filling full-time coaching hours, he taught five classes as a graduate assistant.

He earned his bachelor's degree in communications at Hiram (Ohio) College, where he was a three-sport letterman (basketball, track, and football). A 1992 graduate of Jonesville (Mich.) High School, Bechler was an All-Conference and All-Area selection in basketball, track and cross country, and was also the #1 singles player in tennis.

As a two-time high school state finalist in cross country, Bechler understands the commitment and the mindset necessary to succeed in the sport and knows how to communicate that to his runners.

"I am looking forward to building a cross country program very similar to what Coach Brink has done in basketball. It will be our goal to be more competitive this year as we lay the foundation for a top-notch cross-country program. My three-part plan includes encouraging and motivating all of our runners to reach their potential, secondly it is to recruit top-notch athletes to add to our program and thirdly it will be to represent the university in a first-class manner."
Bechler and his wife of six years, Tabitha, reside in Newberry.