Coach Bechler succeeded Matt Bollant, who was named head women's basketball coach at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay.

Coach Bechler came to Bryan with five years' experience as a head women's coach, including the 2006-07 season when he coached the Tennessee Temple University women's team. He spent four years as head coach at LeTourneau University in Longview, Texas before serving a year as assistant coach at Newberry College, an NCAA Divison II program in South Carolina. He has been an assistant coach at Kent State and Anderson University in his 12 years of coaching.

While at LeTourneau, he was chosen the NCCAA Central Region and the American Southwest Conference East Division Coach of the Year in 2003.

Dr. Zensen said Coach Bechler's experience made him stand out from other candidates as the college began looking to fill the position. "He has the ability to handle the technical and tactical aspects of the game, and he brings a great concern for the spiritual welfare of his players," Dr. Zensen said. "That's critical here at Bryan."

When taking over at Bryan, Bechler said he is excited about the opportunity to coach at "a great program. The fact that Matt went to a Division I school speaks well of the program. I'm impressed with everything I know about Bryan, the basketball program, the academics, the spiritual emphasis. I like the family atmosphere. This is everything I dreamed of when I started my coaching career."

As for the future of the program and the current players, he said "I am really impressed with the returning players and recruits. I liked them when I coached against them, when I was scouting them and I look forward to coaching them.
"I'm not here to fix the program but to keep the train rolling. I'm going to try to do my best to compete for another championship."

In addition to his college experience, Bechler in 2005 led a group of Texas high school all-stars to the championship of the King Kamehameha Basketball Classic in Honolulu, Hawaii. His team was undefeated in that tournament.

He is a graduate of Hiram College in Ohio, where he lettered in basketball, football and track. He earned his Master's degree in physical education at Kent State. He and his wife, Tabitha, live in Dayton, TN.

Contact Coach Bechler at 423-775-7248 or Jamy.Bechler@Bryan.edu

Brandon Crews was born and raised in Oxford, AL.  He earned his Bachelor's Degree in History Education from Tennessee Temple, and is currently pursuing a master's in Christian Leadership from Liberty University.  While at Temple, Brandon spent three years as a scholarship baseball player and two years as a student assistant for the men's basketball team.  Coach Bechler said, "I couldn't be any happier with Brandon coming on board to work at Bryan College.  He has a great deal of enthusiasm and knowledge of the game.  His experience working at Tennessee Temple University for Kevin Templeton is invaluable.  Coach Templeton is one of the most respected coaches around and is one of my mentors.  Brandon truly wants to be a coach.  He and I work together very well."  His responsibilities will include head coach of junior varsity team, top assistant on the varsity, recruiting, study hall, conditioning, and scouting.  Brandon said, "It is an honor for me to be hired by Bryan College and Coach Bechler.  The Lady Lions basketball program has had a great deal of success and I am excited to help them continue that tradition. I look forward to working with Coach Bechler and helping the program win an AAC championship.  I respect Coach Bechler and am glad that I will be able to learn from him.  I have always wanted to coach college basketball and I am excited to get the opportunity to do this while working for Coach Bechler."