NASHVILLE – Trevecca Nazarene University Athletic Director Mark Elliott announces Doug Novak as the seventh head coach of the Trojan women's basketball program. Novak arrives on the Hill with more than 250 career wins as a head coach and many more as an assistant or associate head coach. Novak has experience coaching at all three NCAA levels, Division I, II, and III, and at the junior college level. 

Tennessean Article / by Mike Organ

 

When Novak leads the Trojans into the 2025-26 season, it will be the 33rd season of the women's basketball team at Trevecca. An introductory press conference for Doug Novak is scheduled for Wednesday, May 14, 2025, at 1:00 PM in the lobby of the Mark R. Moore PE Center on the Trevecca campus.

 

Mark Elliott expressed how Novak gained his attention during the search process, "Doug Novak has earned a substantial reputation across all levels of college basketball. His experience crosses men's and women's basketball, all three divisions of NCAA basketball, and large public and small private Christian schools. Several head coaches whom I highly regard say Doug has a bit of a "cult following," being widely regarded as a top teacher of the game. We look forward to adding his wisdom and experience to our Christian Scholar Athlete philosophy."

 

Novak, a 1990 graduate of the University of Tennessee, arrives in Music City after coaching at the George Washington University Revolutionaries in 2024-25. As he did during the 2021-2022 season at Mississippi State University, Novak arrived at George Washington as the associate head coach only to be asked to serve as the interim head coach.

 

Doug Novak said of the opportunity to coach the Trevecca Trojans, "I am honored to have the opportunity to lead the women's basketball program at Trevecca Nazarene University. I am grateful for Dr. Boone and Mark Elliott's belief in me to lead and grow this program. Our success will be determined by our habits. The goal is to develop habits that hold up under pressure, which will allow us to play fast, free, and decisive. We are going to compete for our faith and the ability to be grateful for all circumstances as we attack together.   I can't wait to get started! 

 

His 17+ years of experience as a head coach include eight seasons (2013-2021) as the head men's basketball coach at Bethel University in Minnesota. For eight years, he led the Royals and amassed a 131-68 (.658) overall record — the highest winning percentage of any Bethel coach. In conference play, the MIAC, Novak led the Royals to a 94-52 (.644) mark. He led the Royals to a share of the program's first-ever MIAC regular season championship, second-ever MIAC Playoff championship, and second-ever NCAA Tournament appearance in 2017.

 

University President Dan Boone offered, "My impression of Doug is that he is a follower of Christ, a mentor of students, and a lover of the game of basketball. I believe he will be a leader of the Trevecca culture and a coach of distinction."

 

Several current and former basketball coaches offered their comments about Doug Novak.

 

Kristy Curry | Head Basketball Coach at the University of Alabama  

"Doug Novak is a terrific hire! He is one of the most well-respected basketball minds in our game with his system and style of play. He is an outstanding family man and the kind of person I would want my daughter to play for. He knows what it takes to build a program and this is a homerun hire for Trevecca Nazarene."

 

Karl Smesko | WNBA Head Coach with the Atlanta Dream  

"Doug is one of the best basketball minds in the game.  He is a true innovator and an elite teacher.  Trevecca made a great hire."

 

More quotes from the coaching community about Doug Novak are included at the end of this release.

 

COACHING HISTORY SNAPSHOT

 

GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY REVOLUTIONAIRES | Associate Head Coach / Interim Head Coach - 2024-2025

In his only season in Foggy Bottom, Novak moved into the role of interim head coach for the NCAA Division I program for the final four games of the 2024-2025 season. After, then, head coach Caroline McCombs resigned, Novak led the Revolutionaries to a 2-2 mark, including an upset win of Rhode Island in their Atlanta 10 season finale. Then added a first-round win over Loyola Chicago in the A10 Championships.  

 

NORTHERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY NORSE | Assistant Coach - 2023-2024

Served on the Camryn Volz coaching staff, helping the NCAA Division I Norse to a first-round win over Oakland in the Horizon League Championships.

 

ARMY WEST POINT BLACK KNIGHTS | Associate Head Coach - 2022-2023

As the associate head coach for the Black Knights men's basketball program (2022-23) produced 17 wins, the second-most since the 1978-79 season, while recording the third-most conference wins (10) since joining the Patriot League in 1990.

 

MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY BULLDOGS | Associate Head Coach / Interim Head Coach - 2021-2022

With the Bulldogs, the veteran coach, originally hired as the associate head coach, took over the program just ahead of the 2021-22 season when then, head coach Nikki McCray-Pinson stepped away due to health issues. He led the NCAA Division I program to a 15-14 overall record and a 6-10 mark in the Southeastern Conference. Novak's squad was twice named the NCAA Team of the Week during the regular season. Novak left the Bulldogs with the most wins by a first-year head coach in program history.

 

BETHEL UNIVERSITY (MINN.) | Head Coach - 2013-2021

His Royals produced identical 21-7 records during the 2017 and 2018 seasons, which tied the program record for wins. He led BU to seven consecutive MIAC Playoff appearances, advancing to the semifinals six times, and the championship game three times (2015, 2017, 2018), while hosting the championship game in 2017 and 2018. Throughout his tenure with Bethel, Novak developed 17 MIAC All-Conference selections.

 

TULANE UNIVERSITY GREEN WAVE | Assistant Coach - 2010-2013

Novak spent three years as an assistant for Ed Conroy at Tulane University in New Orleans, helping the Green Wave to two trips to the Conference USA Championships and an invitation to the 2013 CollegeInsider.com Tournament.

 

THE CITADEL BULLDOGS | Assistant Coach - 2006-2010

Novak was the top assistant for four years on a Bulldog coaching staff that turned a program with a 10-21 record the year before they arrived to a 20-13 record in their third season. Helped The Citadel to the most wins over two years and their first postseason appearance.

 

ANDERSON UNIVERSITY (S.C.) TROJANS | Head Coach - 1999-2006

While at Anderson, the Trojans earned their first NCAA Division II winning season and their first Carolinas-Virginia Athletic Conference (CVAC) Championship in program history. He left as the winningest coach with 80 wins.

 

FRANCIS MARION UNIVERSITY PATRIOTS | Assistant Coach - 1998-1999

Helped head coach Ed Conroy lead the Patriots to a 16-12 overall record and an 8-8 mark in Peach Belt conference play.

 

IOWA WESTERN COMMUNITY COLLEGE BLUE JAYS | Head Coach / Athletic Director - 1995-1998

Guided Blue Jays to back-to-back winning seasons, a first for the program. He did so while playing in one of the toughest NJCCA Division I conferences in the country. A conference home to multiple national championship, including Indian Hills CC going back-to-back in 1997 and 1998. Novak served as the athletic director for Blue Jays in addition to his coaching duties.

 

ROANE STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE RAIDERS | Assistant Coach - 1992-1995

Spent his first three seasons as a college basketball assistant coach with the Raiders in Harriman, Tennessee.

 

CLEMSON UNIVERSITY TIGERS | Assistant Coach - 1991-1992

Started his coaching career as an assistant with the Clemson tennis program.

 

THE NOVAK DOSSIER

Hometown: Brandon, S.D.

Family: Wife, Tonya; Daughters, Mackenzie, Sarah, and Grace

Family Tree: MacKenzie Novak is an assistant for the University of New Mexico women's basketball team

 

Education

High School: Brandon Valley High School - 1985

College Undergrad: Augustana University - 1986

College Undergrad: University of Tennessee - B.A. in Psychology - 1990

College Graduate: Clemson University - M. Ed. in Counseling - 1992

 

Student-Athlete

Brandon Valley High School Lynx | Basketball, Tennis, Cross Country, Track and Field

Augustana University | Tennis - 1986

University of Tennessee | Tennis - 1987-90

Before coaching, Novak played tennis at the University of Tennessee from 1987-1990. During his career at UT, Novak and the Volunteers spent time as the No. 1 ranked program in the nation and finished as the NCAA Tournament runner-up in 1990.

 

Before playing at Tennessee, Novak won the 1986 North Central Conference No. 1 Singles title while attending Augustana University as a freshman.

 

He attended Brandon Valley High School in Brandon, South Dakota, where he is in the Lynx Hall of Fame. There he earned 12 varsity letters across basketball, tennis, track and field, and cross country. He was the runner-up for the South Dakota Mr. Basketball award and earned all-state honors. On the tennis court, he was state runner-up twice, going undefeated in the regular season both years. He ran the 800m and Mile, winning the conference and region in the 800m run. He was all-state for the Lynx cross country team.

 

After his playing days, Novak started his coaching career as an assistant tennis coach at Clemson University. Then moved to coaching basketball with an opportunity at Roane State Community College in Harriman, Tennessee.

 

Originally from Brandon, S.D., Novak and his wife, Tonya, have three daughters: Mackenzie, Sarah, and Grace.

 

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT COACH NOVAK

 

Mike Neighbors, Basketball Coach | formerly head coach at the University of Arkansas and current WNBA assistant with the Los Angeles Sparks

"Innovative teachers of the game still have a valuable place in college basketball. Trevecca just proved they realize that! Doug Novak is one of those rare coaches who can take his team and win or take your team and still win. He has never failed to get the most out of his teams."

 

Tim Floyd Basketball Coach | formerly head coach at Southern Cal, Iowa State, Chicago Bulls, and New Orleans Hornets

"People are drawn to Doug Novak, and his players enjoy playing for him. The system Coach Novak uses gives players freedom, and they were our most difficult team to scout."

 

Pat Summitt the Late Hall of Fame Basketball Coach | formerly the women's basketball coach at the University of Tennessee   

"Our staff spent two days at Anderson University watching Doug's team practice. I always learn from watching him put concepts together. We were a better team because of the time we spent watching Coach Novak's practices." 

 

Bobby Cremins Hall of Fame Basketball Coach | formerly head coach at Georgia Tech, College of Charleston, and Appalachian State

"When I was coaching at the College of Charleston - The Citadel's rival - he and Coach Ed Conroy had their players ready in all aspects of the game: offensively, defensively, transition, in-bounds plays, and throughout it all, his players kept their cool and knew what to do in every situation. Off the court, I found Doug to be a gentleman in every sense of the word. There is no doubt he will do a fine job anywhere; he is a winner."

 

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