Ouachita Stories

Ouachita Baptist University Athletic Director David Sharp has announced the hiring of Mark Price as head coach of the OBU men's basketball team. Price succeeds Charlie Schaef who resigned after eight years at Ouachita to become head coach of the men's basketball program at Southwestern Oklahoma State University.

Price has served the past three years as assistant men's basketball coach at Furman University in Greenville, S.C. Furman is an NCAA Division I school in the Southern Conference.

"I am very excited to have Mark as a member of our athletic staff at Ouachita," Sharp declared. "His energy and enthusiasm for the game are very evident. I think he will continue the pride and tradition of Ouachita basketball.

"I am very impressed with the recruiting base he has established," Sharp added. "All of his references mentioned what a strong recruiter he is. I am confident Mark will be a great influence for our student-athletes both on and off the court."

"This is a tremendous privilege to be able to represent a great institution like Ouachita Baptist University," Coach Price said. "I would like to thank Dr. Rex Horne and David Sharp for a great opportunity and their belief in my abilities.

"One of the great things in coaching is when you have a chance to represent a school that has beliefs and standards that are congruent with those of your own, and that is certainly the case for me at OBU," Price noted. "Given my previous experience in the Gulf South Conference, I realize that the pieces are in place here to continue a winning tradition and it is my expectation to expand the success of the program even further. I am excited to have to opportunity to lead this new era of Tiger basketball."

Prior to coaching at Furman, Price spent five years as an assistant coach at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. He helped guide the Chargers to the 2002-03 Gulf South Conference championship and NCAA Tournament appearances in 2003 and 2006.

Price joined the UAH staff after helping Faulkner University earn a 34-5 record and the NAIA Division I national title during the 2000-2001 season. He also spent two seasons as an assistant at the University of Mobile where he helped the Rams capture five victories in the NAIA national tournament.

Price also has served as head coach of two Athletes in Action teams. He guided a 2005 AIA squad to a perfect 10-0 record in Mexico City and led a 2002 team on a South American college basketball tour, compiling a 7-3 record.

Price is a native of Brandenburg, Ky., where he was an outstanding prep athlete at Meade County High School. He earned his bachelor's degree in 1998 from Samford University where he served as a student assistant coach. He is married to the former Kara Pearson.

By Trennis Henderson, OBU Vice President for Communications