BOB BOLEN, Head Coach
Bob Bolen arrived at Mountain State University in 1993 to rebuild a basketball program that had lain dormant since the late '70's.  Under the guidance of Coach Bolen, in thirteen short years, the Cougars have risen to the top of the NAIA in basketball.  In 2004, MSU became National Champions with a 74-70 victory over Calidornia's Concordia University in the NAIA tournament.  Bolen was named the 2004 NAIA National Coach of the Year, 2004 Basketball Times National Coach of the Year, and 2004 West Virginia AP College Coach of the Year.

Bolen's Cougars have won 339 games in only 13 seasons, averaging over 26 wins a year.  MSU had the best record, 38-1, of any college team in the country during the 03-04 campaign.  MSU has been ranked one of the top five scoring teams in the nation for 13 consecutive seasons. 

Coach Bolen was selected as the NAIA Independent Region Coach of the year nine consecutive times and MSU has been in two National Championship games, three "sweet sixteen" rounds, and has qualified for the National Tournament eight successive years (99, 00 ,01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07).  The Cougars have been ranked #1 in the country in 27 of the last 48 national polls.  MSU has finished #1 in the final poll for 3 consecutive years (05, 06, 07).  This is the first time in NAIA history that this feat has been accomplished.

Coach Bolen is married to the former Lisa Toler. They have 3 chilrdren; Katie (9), Jaysen (6), and Andrew (4). 

DAVE BARKSDALE, Assistant Coach
A state prep legend, Coach Dave Barksdale returned seven years ago to serve as an assistant coach at Mountain State University. Coach Barksdale led state basketball power Woodrow Wilson to a record 5 state championships in the 1990s (90, 92, 93, 97, 98) and the Flying Eagles finished state runner-up 3 times as well (91, 95, 00). Barksdale played on the undefeated 1962 Woodrow Wilson team before prepping at Hargrave Military Academy. He later played both basketball and baseball as Furman University. Barksdale previously coached at Ridge Spring-Monetta (SC, 5 years), Orangeburg-Wilkerson (SC, 3 years) and collegiate at Alderson-Broaddus (7 years).

Coach Barksdale and his wife, Geliah, reside in the Beckley area.  They have 3 children and three grand children.

ARTIS MADDOX, Assistant Coach
Coach Maddox returns for his fifth season with the MSU Cougars. Artis is the 4th former player to return to help assist coach Bolen, but is the first to do so and win a national championship in the same year. Artis attended Robert E. Lee HS in Jacksonville, FL where he averaged 23 points and 12 rebounds per game. After graduating he attended Edward Waters College, where he was conference freshman of the year, averaging 14 points and 6 rebounds. He transferred to MSU the following year where he had 500 points over his career and is 2nd in FT percentage (.844) and in the top 10 in FG percentage (.531), 3-pt FG percentage (.432) and in steals with an average of 1.5 per game. He had a career high 6 steals vs. Wayland Baptist in the NAIA National Tournament.

ANTHONY POLK, Strength Coach

Anthony returns in his second year at Mountain State University as the Assistant Athletic Director.  He is originally from Tallahassee, Florida, and is a graduate of Lincoln High School.  Anthony is a former competitive power lifter and record setter in the state of Florida.  Coach polk is a nineteen year senior member of the USA Weight Lifting Organization and a senior at MSU studying business.

ERNIE HINKLE, Manager
Ernie is a retired IBEW Master Electrician of 40 years. He is in his sixth year as an MSU manager. Ernie and his wife, Virginia, have been married for 45 years.  They have a son, Robert Hinkle, and a daughter, Sherry Hinkle Gregg.  Sherry is an MSU graduate.

Ernie's hobbies include basketball, softball, and bowling. Last year the Mountain State University Alumni Association also honored Ernie for his efforts in supporting MSU athletics.  In a ceremony held on September 23, he was given the Distinguished Friend award.

Jay Canterbury, Head Athletic Trainer

Jay is in his first year as the athletic trainer for Mountain State University.  Jay and his wife, Jennifer, reside in the Charleston area. Their daughter, Ella, is 11 years old.  Jay graduated from the University of Charleston in 1995 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Sports Medicine with an emphasis in Athletic Training.  He earned his Master of Science degree in Physical Education from Radford University in 1997. Jay also works with the Men's Soccer, Women's Soccer, Volleyball, and Softball teams at MSU.

Mersad Terzic, Graduate Assistant Coach

Originally from Sarajevo, Bosnia, Mersad was an undergraduate student at MSU and a member of the 2004 National Championship Team. He graduated in 2006 and went on to play proffesional basketball in Montenegro before returning to MSU and joining staff as a graduate assistant coach.

E. STUART CORNETT, M.D., Team Physician
Dr. Cornett begins his 5th season as the team physician for the MSU Cougars. Stuart was born in Beckley in 1971, graduated from Oak Hill High School in 1989.  He then attended West Virginia University and earned a B.S. in biology in 1993, and graduated from the School of Medicine in 1997. He is board certified in anesthesiology and peri-operation transesophageal echocardiography. He is currently employed by Greenbrier Valley Medical Center and serves as an Assistant Professor of Cardiac Anesthesia at WVU.  Dr. Cornett is also the Medical Director for Jan-Care Ambulance Service.

His wife, Ashlei, is also from Beckley and they have 2 children: Bailei, 7 and Kennedy, 4.

STAN ROSE, Manager
Stan has volunteered his time with the Cougars for 10 1/2 years. He is a graduate of Pineville HIgh School and a Bell Atlantic retiree.

Stan and his wife, Goldie, reside in Beckley.  Goldie is a graduate of Baileysville High School and Beckley College.  She is retired from Beckley ARH.  Between them, they have seven children, eleven grandchildren, and twelve great-grandchilren.

TOM MARTIN, Manager
Tom is beginning his 6th year as either student assistant or volunteer for the team. he is also an assistant manager For Wendy's on Harper Rd. He also does most of the filming of the games as well as helping with the film exchanges for other teams. In his spare time he likes to bowl, watch WWE wrestling, and watch sports and NASCAR. He hopes to add another championship ring to his collection this year.

PAUL VAN SCOTT, Broadcaster
Paul was born and raised in Washington, DC…Graduated from Columbia School of Broadcasting in 1988. Moved to Beckley in 1994 to work for Southern Communications. He has one daughter Giavanna…He has broadcast over 150 CWV/MSU games including all of the NAIA Nationla Tournament games.. He hosts a daily Sports Talk Show called “The 620 Sports Club”, on WWNR. This year you can hear him broadcast the games on WTNJ 105.9

KATHY LEWIS-PAYNE, Faculty Athletics Rep. & Champions of Character Rep.
Kathy is in her 7th year as Mountain State University’s Champions of Character Representative, and her 11th year as a marketing/management professor for the School of Business. She also serves as the newly appointed Faculty athletics Representative.  Originally from Huntington, WV, where she graduated from Marshall University earning 3 degrees, she now resides in Fayetteville with her husband Chris and their son Chuckie, who is also a MSU student and cheerleader.

CARLOS GARTEN, PA Announcer
Carlos Garten has been working in sports in some capacity for 59 years. He was the Umpire in Chief in WV of softball for 22 years and has umpired 21 softball World Series.

Carlos has been the public address announcer as Raleigh County Armory-Civic Center for all basketball games for 38 years. He prides himself on only missing only seven games throughout his time at the Armory.

BOBBY SMITH, Clock Operator
Mr. Smith is employed by the Beckley Veterans Medical Center in the Dietetics and Food Service department. He is the clock operator at the Raleigh County Armory for all basketball games and is starting his 14th season. He is also a registered basketball referee for 17 yrs. His hobbies include playing basketball, jogging, playing guitar, singing and perfecting self-defense techniques.

RITA BURLESON, Scorekeeper
Mrs. Burleson is employed by the Raleigh County Board of Education as a teacher for 24 yrs. She is the scorekeeper at the Raleigh County Armory for all basketball games for the past 14 yrs. Her hobbies include jogging, counted cross-stitch and baking.

KENNY BURLESON, Shot Clock Operator
Mr. Burleson is employed by the Raleigh County Board of Education as a teacher for 24 yrs. He is the shot clock operator at the Raleigh County Armory for all college games and is beginning his 6th season. He was the coach for the Trap Hill Middle School basketball team.

JENNIFER SMOLDER, Music Coordinator
Ms. Smolder is a student in her senior year at MSU in the Criminal Justice program. She will graduate in May. She is the music coordinator for all basketball games at the Raleigh County Armory going into her 5th season. She is a registered High School Softball umpire completing her 3rd year. Her hobbies include playing basketball, collecting baseball cards and working on her computer.

JEFF MOLLOHAN, Statistician
Mr. Mollohan was born and raised in Beckley, graduating from Woodrow Wilson High School in 1989. He attended WVU, where he graduated in 1993 with a degree in Marketing. He later attended Concord College while working at H L Mollohan & Associates as an accountant. After passing the CPA Exam in 2001 and worked in his father’s firm until May 2002. He is now employed by Mountaineer Hyundai as a controller/asst. general manager. He resides in Beckley with his wife, Micki, and his daughter Reghan.

SAM HALL, Statistician
Sam is the collections manager for Pioneer Community Bank,his wife, Susie Lynn is the Facilitations Manager for AEP> They are the parents of two children, AJ, who is a salesman for Ramey Ford in Beckley, and Kasie, a junios at Marshall University. Sam has been the statistician for the MSU basketball team since 1994. Same is a 1973 graduate of Oceana High School and attended Marshall University and The College of West Virginia.