Bethel University Athletics

Doug Novak is entering his eighth season as the head men's basketball coach at Bethel University after spending the seven previous years as a top assistant at the NCAA Division I level.

AT BETHEL
• Named head coach on June 4, 2013
• Record of 131-68 (.658) in eight seasons at Bethel—the highest winning percentage of any Bethel basketball coach
• Led the Royals to a share of the programs first-ever MIAC regular season championship, second-ever MIAC Playoff championship and second-ever NCAA Tournament appearance in 2017
• Identical 21-7 records during both the 2017 and 2018 seasons tied the program record for wins, previously set in 2002
• 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 both 2017 & 2018
• Set a new program record for steals in 2016-2017 with 244, breaking the previous mark of 223 set in 2014-2015
• Won a program-best 11 straight games against four-year schools in 2018-19
• Four wins over nationally-ranked opponents in 2015-16, including a win over the No. 3-ranked team on their home court

PLAYER DEVELOPMENT
• Kyle Zimmermann named the 2015 MIAC Most Valuable Player, NABC First Team All-American and D3hoops.com Third Team All-American
• 17 MIAC All-Conference selections and five Honorable Mention All-Conference selections
• Freshmen named to All-Conference team in 2014 and 2015, first team in MIAC history to have two freshman awarded All-Conference accolades in consecutive seasons
• One player named to the five-member MIAC All-Freshman team in four of seven seasons
• Four MIAC All-Defensive Team selections
• Brycen Wojta, Kyle Zimmermann, and Derek Magnuson selected to the USA Division III Team - Brazil Tour in the summers of 2014, 2015, and 2016
• Derek Magnuson program's career leader in field goal percentage (59.8%)
• Granger Kingland program leader in 3-point field goals made (224) and single-season leader in free throw percentage (95.7%)

DIVISION I EXPERIENCE
• Helped the Tulane Green Wave to two Conference USA Championship tournament appearances
• 2013 CollegeInsider.com Tournament appearance
• Helped turn The Citadel program around from a 10-21 record to 20-13 within three seasons and guided the Bulldogs through the most successful stretch in program history
• Coached three mid-major All-Americans at The Citadel

HEAD COACHING EXPERIENCE
• Led Anderson (S.C.) University to their first winning season in NCAA Division II 
• Won Anderson's first Carolinas-Virginia Athletic Conference (CVAC) Championship in program history
• Spent three seasons as the Athletic Director and head basketball coach at Iowa Western Community College

TENNIS 
• Played on the No. 1 nationally ranked collegiate tennis team at the University of Tennessee
• Served as an assistant tennis coach at Clemson University

PERSONAL LIFE
• Doug and his wife, Tonya, reside in Eagan with their daughters Mackenzie, Sarah, and Grace

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT COACH NOVAK
"I feel Bethel University made a tremendous hire in Doug Novak. People are drawn to Doug and the players enjoy playing for him. The system Coach Novak utilized at Tulane not only gave players freedom, but they were our most difficult team to scout in conference play."
Tim Floyd, Head Basketball Coach—UTEP, former head coach of the Chicago Bulls and New Orleans Hornets

"Our staff spent two days at Anderson University watching Doug's team practice. I always learned so much watching him put concepts together. We were a better team because of the time we spent watching Coach Novak's practices." 
Pat Summitt, former Head Women's Basketball Coach—Tennessee, all-time winningest coach in NCAA basketball history

"I have seen what Doug Novak can do with my own eyes. When I was coaching at College of Charleston - The Citadel's rival - he and Coach Ed Conroy had his 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. They were always well-coached, gave us fits all of the time and beat us more times than I care to recall. 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 at Bethel, as he has done at Tulane, The Citadel and Anderson. He is a winner."
Bobby Cremins, former Head Basketball Coach—Georgia Tech, College of Charleston

"Coach Novak enhanced the skills I had, then helped me develop more skills while making me a more versatile player."
Jordan Callahan—Tulane University all-time leading three-point shooter, professional

"Coach Novak taught me as a point guard when I needed to score and when I needed to get my teammates involved. He took my skills and talents up another level."
Ricky Tarrant—Tulane University/University of Alabama, All-Conference USA

"Coach Novak was by far one of the best coaches that I had my entire career. He helped to make me a far better player and yet at the same time, he helped me grow as a person as well. He is truly a great teacher of the game along with being a great person and friend. To this day, I still use many of the skills that Coach Novak taught me and I will always be grateful for him taking the time out to be a great coach to me!"
Demetrius Nelson—The Citadel, All-Southern Conference, professional

Last Updated 8/10/2021