Arkansas Tech did not have to go far to find its new head men's basketball coach, naming Chad Kline the 22nd head coach in program history on June 2, 2014.
After three years as an assistant to former head coach Doug Karleskint, Kline took over as head coach for a Wonder Boys program that had won or shared six consecutive conference titles and qualified for six consecutive conference tournaments.
In his first year as the program's head coach, Kline kept the streak alive as the Wonder Boys posted an 18-14 record, including an 11-9 record in GAC play. Needing a win in the conference championship to keep the NCAA tournament streak alive, Kline's Wonder Boys won a trio of close games, knocking off Southeastern Oklahoma, Southwestern Oklahoma, and East Central to bring home another conference championship and advance to the regionals.Â
As head coach for the Wonder Boys bench, Arkansas Tech has posted a 73-47Â record, including a 49-37 mark in Great American Conference play. Kline has mentored 13Â all-GAC selections, seeing R.J. Glasper named GAC Freshman of the Year, Willie Kirkland named GAC Newcomer of the Year, Charles Mells named GAC Defensive Player of the Year, and Johnie Davis named GAC Player of the Year as well as an honorable mention All-America selection.
Kline brought a wealth of experience to the Wonder Boys bench, having spent seven years on staff, including the last five as head coach, at Frank Phillips College in Borger, Texas. During his time as head coach, he led the Plainsmen to an overall record of 90-60 and the 2007 Western Junior College Athletic Conference regular season championship.
Kline coached 11 all-conference performers, four all-region achievers and one All-American during his five years as head coach at Frank Phillips College.
Kline spent one year as an assistant coach at Coastal Bend College before joining the Arkansas Tech staff. A native of McPherson, Kan., Kline played two years at Barton County Community College in Great Bend, Kansas. While at Barton, he helped his team to a 67-5 record, two conference championships, and a runner-up finish at the National Tournament. From there, Kline played at Emporia State University as a junior and played his senior season in his hometown at McPherson College.
Kline holds a bachelor's degree from Fort Hays State University, located in Hays, Kansas. He and his wife Courtney reside in Russellville with their two boys, Owen and Troy.
