After four extremely successful seasons – which included 23 wins a year, three straight National Tournament appearances, two conference titles, and two Coach of the Year awards – Jason Gillespie, Bluefield College men’s basketball coach, is returning to Cincinnati Christian University (CCU). His new role will include both men’s basketball head coach and Athletic Director. At Gillespie’s re-introduction to CCU faculty and staff, he unveiled the new Golden Eagle athletics logo to much fanfare and enthusiasm.
“I am excited about the new challenge of being an athletic director,” said Gillespie about his added duties with CCU. “It is an opportunity to expand my responsibility. During my first stint at Cincinnati Christian I was the assistant athletic director, so I have a little bit of experience there.”
During his first time as a coach with CCU, Gillespie tallied a 24-4 regular season record against opponents in the same region, with a 39-30 overall record in two seasons with the Eagles, then a Division II member of the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA). He led CCU to a regular season NCCAA Mid-East Regional Championship and a bid to play in the NCCAA Division II National Tournament. During both seasons, he also earned NCCAA Mid-East Coach of the Year honors.
Gillespie’s four seasons with Bluefield College (BC) were impressive. He collected 92 wins and just 41 losses for an outstanding 70 percent winning record. During that same time, the BC coach accumulated 60 wins versus just 14 losses in the Appalachian Athletic Conference for a remarkable 81 percent winning proportion.
His 2005-2009 tenure at BC also included two regular season Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) championships in 2007 and 2009, the latter as a result of a perfect 18-0 record in the AAC, along with three straight NAIA Division II National Tournament appearances, 2007-2009, and two AAC Coach of the Year honors in 2007 and 2009.
In addition to the regular season conference title and a bid to play in the NAIA National Tournament, the 2008-2009 BC Rams climbed as high as seventh in the nation under Gillespie — the highest ranking ever in an NAIA poll for BC men’s basketball. The team also put together a 17-game winning streak during the season, the longest streak for any NAIA-DII school. In addition, the Rams led the nation in scoring at 92 points per game.
Today as Cincinnati Christian University competes as a Division II member of the NAIA through an affiliation with the Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, Gillespie hopes he can continue his winning ways. “Of course we want to have the same type of success at CCU,” said Gillespie. “But that kind of success is more than just winning championships. CCU Athletics strives to develop athletes physically, academically and spiritually for life on and off the field of competition. Athletic excellence is a highly effective way to connect with today’s culture and share with them the Good News of the Gospel.”
CCU’s new athletic logo is featured on apparel and many other items in the CCU bookstore on campus or online at www.ccubookstore.com.