Former Mississippi State interim women’s basketball coach Doug Novak is new Trevecca’s coach. Novak replaces Karen Booker, who was fired after three seasons on March 24.
Novak, a 1990 Tennessee graduate, was the interim head coach at Mississippi State for the 2021-22 season. He led the Bulldogs to a 15-14 record, including 6-10 in the SEC. That was the most wins for a first-year head coach in Mississippi State history.
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The South Dakota native joined former Lady Vols player Nikki McCray-Penson’s staff at Mississippi State as associate head coach on Sept. 7, 2021. He was was promoted to interim head coach 35 days later after McCray-Penson resigned due to health issues.
Novak then spent the 2022-23 season as associate head coach at Army, the 2023-24 season as an assistant at Northern Kentucky and this past season as associate head coach at George Washington. He was promoted to interim head coach at George Washington on Feb. 24 after Caroline McCombs stepped down.
Earlier in his career, Novak was a head coach at three men’s programs including Bethel University in Minnesota (2013-21), Anderson (S.C.) University (1999-2006) and Iowa Western (1995-98).
Mark Novak, who spent time as the interim head coach at Mississippi State and George Washington, is the women’s basketball coach at Trevecca.
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“Doug Novak has earned a substantial reputation across all levels of college basketball,” Trevecca athletic director Mark Elliott said in a release. “His experience crosses men’s and women’s basketball, all three divisions of NCAA basketball, and large public and small private Christian schools. Several head coaches whom I highly regard say Doug has a bit of a ‘cult following,’ being widely regarded as a top teacher of the game. We look forward to adding his wisdom and experience to our Christian scholar athlete philosophy.”
Novak’s career coaching record is 286-232.
He also had assistant coaching stints at Tulane (men, 2010-13); The Citadel (men, 2006-10); Francis Marion (men, 1998-99) and Roane State Community College (men, 1992-95).
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Trevecca was 8-20 this past season. The Trojans were 49-42 overall under Booker.
“Our success will be determined by our habits,” Novak said. “The goal is to develop habits that hold up under pressure, which will allow us to play fast, free, and decisive. We are going to compete for our faith and the ability to be grateful for all circumstances as we attack together. I can’t wait to get started.”
Novak began his career as an assistant tennis coach at Clemson in 1991. During his tennis playing career at Tennessee, the Volunteers spent time as the No. 1-ranked program in the nation and finished as the NCAA Tournament runner-up in 1990.
Reach Mike Organ at 615-259-8021 or on X @MikeOrganWriter.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Trevecca women’s basketball hires former Doug Novak as next coach
