Head Coach Jeff Coleman

Jeff Coleman is in his fourth season as head men’s basketball coach at Ohio Northern after legendary head coach Joe Campoli stepped down at the conclusion of the 2004-05 season.

In his first three seasons, he has guided the Polar Bears to an outstanding 40-13 record and national rankings of No. 5 during the 2006-07 season.

Coleman served as an assistant coach at ONU for 13 years. Coleman also served as a student-assistant coach at ONU from 1988-90, working alongside Campoli with the junior varsity basketball team.

He also serves as an assistant professor in the department of health, physical education and sport studies.

While serving as an assistant coach, Coleman also served as the head men’s golf coach at ONU for four years.

In 2002-03, Coleman was named the National Assistant Basketball Coach of the Year.

He is also the winningest head women’s soccer coach at ONU, posting 103 wins in eight seasons from 1993-2000.

Coleman was a three-year letterman on the Polar Bear men’s tennis team from 1987-89 and was part of Ohio Northern’s undefeated 1987 squad that posted a 10-0 record.

Coleman received a master’s degree in health sciences from Georgia Southern in 1993 after earning the bachelor’s degree in biology from ONU in 1990.

While at Armstrong State (Ga.) in 1991 and 1992, Coleman was a graduate assistant basketball coach and physical education instructor.

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Assistant Coach Anthony Gholson

Assistant Coach Dave Cox

Gholson also serves as a lecturer in the University’s Human Performance and Sport Science department.

He lettered in basketball in 1987 and 1988, helping the Polar Bears to records of 14-12 and 21-9 in those years. He averaged 11.4 points and 4.3 rebounds per game in 56 career games, with career highs of 13.4 points and 4.5 rebounds per game as a senior in 1988.

Upon his graduation, he served at Ohio Northern in the admissions department in 1989 and 1990 and was the director of student activities from 1991-94.

He was an assistant basketball coach at ONU from 1991-1994, and was on the staff when the Polar Bears won the 1993 national championship.

“Tony brings a great deal of experience to our staff,” ONU head coach Jeff Coleman said. “He played in this program and knows what it takes to be successful in this league. We are excited to have him back with our family.”

Gholson then left ONU for Columbus State, where he worked from 1995-2005.

He was the head men’s basketball coach from 2001-04, amassing an 86-36 record.

He also served as director of athletics from 2000-05.

In addition to his coaching duties, Cox has assisted with the Polar Bear Basketball Camp for the past 29 years.

The dedication and loyalty he has for ONU may be second to none. Dave is a history teacher at Northwestern High School in Springfield and makes the 150-mile round trip drive each day to help teach the student-athletes at Ohio Northern University the game of basketball.

“I’m not sure what we would do without Dave’s assistance,” Jeff Coleman said. “Our basketball family has been blessed to have Dave in our program. The unselfish time and effort he gives to Ohio Northern is second to none.

“Over the years there have been many fine student-athletes that have joined our program because of his recruiting efforts. Dave also plays a major role in our scouting process throughout the season.”

Dave earned his bachelor’s degree from Wisconsin-Whitewater in 1972.

Dave and his wife, Linda, are the proud parents of three children: Bethany, Chris and Mark.

Assistant Coach Clyde Pickett

Pickett is also the director of multicultural development at ONU.

He received his BS degree from Kentucky and his M.Ed. degree from Morehead State.