Southwestern Christian University

Administration Bio:

When Mark Arthur came to Southwestern Christian University in the spring of 1991, the small, private bible college did not field a single intercollegiate athletic program.

It wasn't always that way, though. Arthur himself had played for SCU, then known as Oklahoma City Southwestern College from 1978-1980. The program was shut down in 1982. 

While at OCSC, Arthur earned his Associate of Arts Degree before going on to transfer to Central Oklahoma where he earned both his bachelor's and master’s degrees in education.  

Returning to SCU in 1991 as the financial aid director, Arthur immediately began to look at the possibility of re-launching the men's basketball team. He knew that bringing back intercollegiate athletics would build school spirit and give the institution an edge in recruiting.

In the Fall of 1992, the men's basketball program was re-birthed with Arthur as head coach.

Two decades later, the athletic department has grown to 16 sports with student-athletes competing in both the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA).

At the close of the 2011-12 basketball season, Arthur announced his retirement after 20 years at the helm of the men's basketball program. He felt like the SCU athletic department had grown to a point that, in order to be successful, it was going to need a full-time athletic director. 

Arthur saw this as a new challenge and accepted the position, stating, "In life we need new challenges to keep us motivated, and I look forward to this new challenge."

While leading the SCU men's basketball program, Arthur compiled an overall record of 404-329. In his 20 years as head coach, Arthur acquired a decorative collection of achievements, including eight national championships, four from the NCCAA and four from the ACCA, and In 2006 he was recognized as NCCAA national coach of the year.

In 2008, Arthur's career was highlighted with a capstone moment in the naming of the ‘Mark Arthur Court' at the Pickens-Springer Gymnasium.

There is no doubt that Coach Arthur has all of the aptitude and propensity to take on the SAC Conference. He remains the solid core of the athletics program, bringing home numerous national, conference, and regional titles in the NCCAA. Coach Arthur was named the NCCAA in 2006 and 2010, National Coach of the Year in 2006. He was named Region Coach of the Year six times as well as Conference Coach of the Year four times. SAC Coach of the year 2023.

Coach Mark Arthur played basketball for Oklahoma City Southwestern College from 1978-1980 before going on to receive his Bachelor of Science degree in Education in 1982 as well as his Master of Education in 1984 from the University of Central Oklahoma. He and his wife, Karlene, have two children: Jon and Eve.

2015-2016: 15-15
2016-2017: 17-17 (NCCAA National Tournament)
2017-2018: 14-19 (NCCAA National Tournament)
2018-2019: 11-19
2019-2020: 20-10 
2020-2021: 12-5 (Covid Year)
2021-2022: 21-14 (NCCAA National Champions)
2022-2023: 17-14 (SAC Champions & NAIA Tournament)
2023-2024: 17-15 (NCCAA National Tournament 

Record: 144 - 128 (.529)