Ring hired as new MBBC men's basketball coach

Thursday, April 23, 2009 11:59 AM CDT

Maranatha Baptist Bible College is pleased to announce that Neal Ring has accepted the position of head men's basketball coach.

Ring, a 1998 graduate of Northland Baptist Bible College, has earned a master of sports science in coaching at the United States Sports Academy (USSA) of Daphne, Ala., and is currently a candidate for a doctorate of education in sports management with an emphasis in leadership at USSA.

Ring has basketball coaching experience at nearly every level - from middle school to college. Ring started out as a junior high boys basketball coach for two years at Union Grove Christian School in Union Grove. Ring then coached high school basketball for 12 years and served four years as an assistant at Northland Baptist Bible College and North Carolina Wesleyan College. Ring has also served as a high school athletic director at Christian high schools in Arkansas, North Carolina and Wisconsin.

While working on the doctorate degree, Ring returned to Union Grove Christian School to serve as a volunteer assistant coach for skill development for head coach Lee Morey. Ring is currently working as a grassroots basketball adviser for On Court Player Development® which is based in Atlanta, Ga.

“This is the realization of my dream to become a college head basketball coach,” Ring said. “Maranatha represents an opportunity to use the game of basketball as a platform for discipleship with a group of men who will become leaders for this next generation. I take that responsibility very seriously and look forward to seeing how God will use this program to sharpen lives for his glory.

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“Expectations can be difficult to establish before a team and coaching staff spend time together preparing for a season. Whether we are in a practice or a game, I expect us to strive for three things: to be a great team in action and attitude, to get after our opponent defensively, and to be hard to guard offensively. If we accomplish these three things, then the scoreboard will take care of itself.”

Ring replaces Rob Cronin, who served as the head men's basketball coach and dean of men at Maranatha for five years.

“We have greatly appreciated coach Cronin and his investment in ministry in Maranatha's basketball program,” Athletic Director Rob Thompson said. “We trust that we will see a smooth transition as coach Ring begins his ministry.”

Ring's wife, Beth, will be serving as an assistant coach for the volleyball team. Neal and Beth have four children - RJ, Kay, Megan and Carissa - ranging from 3 to 10 years old.

“We are excited about coach Neal Ring coming to Maranatha,” Thompson said. “Neal's experience and knowledge of the sport will greatly add to the overall program at Maranatha. “As Neal and his wife Beth join our coaching staff, we see great things for the future of Crusader athletics.”