BALDWIN CITY — Ben Lister has been named head coach of the Baker University women’s basketball program, Baker athletics director Theresa Yetmar announced on Monday.
Lister, an assistant women’s basketball coach at Barton Community College, takes over for Susan Decker, who resigned earlier this spring after coaching the Lady ’Cats for 11 seasons.
Lister served as an assistant coach at Barton for four years. During his time at Barton, the Cougars compiled a 94-36 record and won the 2008 and 2009 Jayhawk West Conference Championship on their way to a NJCAA Region VI championship.
The team advanced to its first national tournament semifinal in 2008, tying the best finish in school history.
Before Barton, Lister was the head coach at Manhattan Christian College in 2005-2007 where he guided the team to a 27-7 overall record, third best in school history and was named the regional Coach of the Year in the Central Region for National Christian College Athletic Association Division II.
Lister coached the boys and girls varsity basketball programs at Sunrise Christian Academy from 2004 to 2007.
Lister looks to make an immediate impact on the foundation that has already been built at Baker.
“I am extremely excited to accept the head coaching position for the Baker women’s basketball program,” Lister said. “Baker is a proud and strong university with an excellent reputation. I am looking forward to being a part of it. My goal is to continue the growth of a strong program with a solid foundation into a program that is considered among the elite at the NAIA Division I level. This is a university that excels in developing top-notch student-athletes, which made this a natural fit for myself as a coach and for my family. We are ready to be Wildcats!”
Baker athletics director Theresa Yetmar said she is also confident that Lister will make a smooth transition to the university.
“Coach Ben Lister is a great fit for Baker University and will elevate our women’s basketball program,” Yetmar said. “Ben has been an integral part of the success at all of the programs that he has coached during his career.
“He has a friendly demeanor, great work ethic, and is a proven recruiter. I know that Ben is committed to the success of our student-athletes on the court and in the classroom. We are extremely pleased that Ben will be a member of our staff, and welcome him, his wife Angie, and children Isaac, Laci and Landon to the university family.”
Lister graduated from Wichita State University in 2005 with a degree in sports administration. He will officially begin his coaching duties on July 1.