Ottawa University

OU Coach Passes Torch, Re-directs Focus

Conner turns the reigns over to Tate 

OTTAWA, Kansas - Ottawa University Women's Basketball Coach Arabie Conner has announced that she is stepping down as head coach in order to focus all of her efforts as OU's Athletic Director. Bruce Tate, Conner's assistant coach for the past nine years, has been offered the position and will assume head coaching duties immediately.

Conner, who coached the Lady Braves for the past 11 years, feels that it's the right time to make the transition. "With the new initiatives and growth of the athletic department, it's a good time for me to step down and concentrate my efforts on all programs equally," said Conner. "Serving as the basketball coach while also trying to devote time to the other sport programs have been a constant juggling act and one that is difficult to successfully accomplish. I want to do everything I can to see that we succeed as both an athletic department and university." In addition to serving as the athletic director, Conner will be re-entering the classroom as a part-time instructor.

In the past four years, Conner has led OU to an 87-41 overall record and three 20-win seasons. In 2006-07, she led OU to the most victories in school history (24) and its first NAIA Division II National Tournament ‘Sweet 16' appearance. Conner led the Lady Braves to the NAIA Division II National Tournament in 2004, 2006 and 2007. Four times (2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007) she led the Lady Braves to the KCAC Championship Game resulting in three KCAC Tournament Championships (2004, 2006 and 2007). Conner earned Kansas Basketball Coach Association (KBCA) Women's Basketball Coach of the Year honors in 2003-04 and again in 2006-07. She finishes with 160 career victories, the most in Lady Brave basketball history. During her 11 years at OU, Conner coached over 40 NAIA All-American Scholar Athletes, three NAIA All-Americans and over 30 KCAC All-Conference performers.

As Conner transitions out of coaching, she is fully confident in Bruce Tate's ability to lead the Lady Braves. "Bruce has been an outstanding assistant coach, and he will be an outstanding head coach," she said. "He's helped build the program over the past nine years, so the consistency he can offer will be great. At the same time, he has nine new student-athletes coming in which will give him the opportunity to make the program his own."

Tate, who also serves as assistant athletic director and instructor in physical education, is an Ottawa University alumnus, graduating in 2000 with a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education. He earned his Master of Science in Health, Physical Education and Recreation from Emporia State University in 2006. 

"I've held many positions at OU, but my ultimate goal has always been to be a head coach and lead an athletic program," said Tate. "I'm really excited about the opportunity to take on the ladies' basketball program. I want to thank Arabie for the trust she has in me, as well as OU Men's Basketball Coach Andy Carrier, who originally recommended me for the assistant coaching position nine years ago."

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Founded in 1865, Ottawa University is a comprehensive, not-for-profit educational institution affiliated with the American Baptist Churches USA. Ottawa University's educational mission brings together a residential campus in Ottawa, Kansas, and adult campuses in Kansas City, Missouri; Phoenix, Mesa and Tempe, Arizona; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Jeffersonville, Indiana; as well as multiple international instructional sites.  For more information, visit http://www.ottawa.edu.