Coach Rowland

Jim Rowland

Jim Rowland enters his 20th season as Women’s Head Basketball Coach at NEO A&M College in 2024-25. In nineteen years Rowland has guided the Lady Norse to a 399-175 overall record. In 23-24 Rowland led the Lady Norse to another Region II Tournament appearance with a semifinal birth and overall record of 12-19. Cheyan McDaniel was selected 2nd Team All Region and Mady Swayze was selected NJCAA National Player of the week. 

In 2022-2023 Rowland led the Lady Norse to yet another Region II Tournament appearance with overall record of 14-13. Jada Hytche was selected 2nd Team All Region. In 21-22 Rowland led the Lady Norse to the Region II Tournament with overall record of 11-15. Kristina Ekofo was selected 2nd Team All Region. In 20-21 Rowland led the Lady Norse to the Region II semifinals and a 11-9 overall record. Dariann Myles was selected 2nd team All Region. Rowland is the All Time winningest coach in NEO history. His 292nd win eclipsed the old record held by NEO Hall of Famer Randy Gipson with 291. He also won his 300th game as a head coach.  Rowland's effort and achievements at the helm has kept the tradition of NEO women’s basketball program in the spotlight of the NJCAA D-1 Women’s Basketball. In 19-20 Rowland led the Lady Norse to Region II semifinal and a overall record of 15-14. Ivvana Murrillo was selected 1st Team All Region.

In 18-19 Rowland led the Lady Norse back to the Region II finals with a runner up finish and an overall season record of 22-9. Bethy Mununga and Jo’Nah Johnson were selected first team All Region with Mununga being named Region II MVP. She was also selected NJCAA 1st Team All American.

In 17-18 Rowland led the Lady Norse to their 5th consecutive Oklahoma Collegiate Athletic Conference title with a 16-0 record and an overall record of 27-5. He also guided them to their 3rd straight Regional Title, his fifth as a head coach and a berth in the National Tournament. Rowland was named Region 2 Coach of the Year and National Coach of the Year for District B. Bethy Mununga and Mariam Gnanou were selected first team All Region and Mikayla Shulanberger was named second team All Region. Bethy Mununga was named MVP of Region 2. Mununga was also selected 2nd team All American by the NJCAA.

In 2016-17 Rowland led the Lady Norse to their 4th consecutive Oklahoma Collegiate Athletic Conference title with a 15-1 record and an overall record of 28-3. He also guided them to their 2nd consecutive Regional Title, his fourth as head coach and a berth in the National Tournament, finishing in the top 16. Rowland again was named National Coach of the Year for District B. Hatty Nawezhi and Maria Delgado were selected first team All Region with Maria being named MVP of the region. Delgado was also selected first team All American by the NJCAA.

In 2015-16 Rowland led the Lady Norse to their third consecutive Oklahoma Collegiate Athletic Conference title with an 18-1 record and an overall record of 29-4 and was named coach of the year. He also guided them to the 2016 Region II Title, his third as head coach and a berth in the National Tournament, finishing in the top 16. Rowland was named National Coach of the Year for District B. Melinda Murillo was selected to the first All Region team and was named as the MVP of the conference. Maria Delgado was selected to the second All Region team. Murillo was also named second team All American by the NJCAA.
 
In 2014-15 Rowland led the Lady Norse to another Oklahoma Collegiate Athletic Conference Title with a 16-2 record and an overall record of 22-8.  Rowland coached All Region II player Melinda Murillo and was named OCAC Coach of the year.
 
In 2013-14 Rowland guided the Lady Norse to an Oklahoma Collegiate Athletic Conference Title with a 17-1 record. Rowlands team finished the year ranked 10th in the country with an overall record of 27-4. During that year he coached All American and All Region II player Devaughn Gray. Rowland collected his 200th victory against Connors State College on February 10th 2014 and was named OCAC Coach of the year.
 
It was yet another 20 win season for the Lady Norse under Rowlands guidance in 2012-13. He guided the Lady Norse to a 3rd place finish in the OCAC with a 21-9 record and a semifinal berth in the Region II Tournament.
 
In 2011-12 Rowland had another successful season. He guided the Lady Norse to a 23-10 record and their 9th Region II Championship as a women’s basketball program and was named District B Coach of the Year.  During that year Rowland coached All American, All Conference and All Region II player Wilka Montout, who was also named MVP of the Region Tournament.
 
In 2010-11 Rowland guided the Lady Norse to a 3rd place finish in the OCAC with a 13-5 record and 22-9 overall. The Lady Norse finished the season with a semi-final loss in the Region II Tournament.
 
 2009-10 in his only season without 20 wins he guided the Lady Norse to a 19-11 overall record and a semifinal berth to the Region II Tournament. During that year Rowland hit the century mark with his 100th career victory over Allen County Community College.
 
In 2008-09 he coached two time All American Megan Fraley and led the Lady Norse to a 23-8 record and reaching the semifinals of the Region II Tournament.
In his third year as head coach he guided the Lady Norse Basketball program to a 70-25 overall record. While coaching All American Megan Fraley he guided the 2007-08 Norse to a 23-8 record and a semifinal berth in the Region II Tournament. 
 
In his second year as head coach Rowland kept the Lady Norse tradition a continued success. In 2006-07, the Lady Norse returned to the NJCAA National Tournament since 2003. Rowland captured his first Region II Championship and a 25-8 overall record. Rowland was recognized as being named NJCAA District B Coach of the year.
 
Rowland took over the program in 2005-06 guiding the Lady Norse to a 22-9 record and Region II Runner up finish.
 
Before taking over the program, Rowland was an assistant for the Golden Norse Men’s Basketball program from 2000-02 under Lonnie Spencer where helped coach several All Conference players. In 2002 Rowland made the transition to become the assistant under Darin Grover for the Lady Norse Basketball program. During his three years as an assistant he helped guide the Lady Norse to a 77-18 record. This included a Region II Championship and a 6th place finish in the National tournament. With the success of the program he has now coached 11 All Americans and 17 All Region II players. Rowland has helped produce players that have transferred to D-I and D-II programs, including Big 12, SEC, Mid-Continent, Atlantic 10, Conference USA, SWAC, AAC, GAC, and MIAA. Rowland is a graduate of Pawhuska High School. He attended Central State University where it later became The University of Central Oklahoma where he earned his Bachelors Degree in Physical Education/Recreation in 1992. Rowland is married to Tonya Rowland and together they have two daughters Haiden 28, Tori 26, one son Mason 11 , grandson Cason 5,  2 granddaughters Grace and Sophia.

 
Season by Year

2023-2024		 Wins-Losses

12-19
2022-2023   14-13
2021-2022 11-15
2020-2021   11-9
2019-2020 15-14
2018-2019 22-9
2017-2018 27-5
2016-2017 29-3
2015-2016 29-4
2014-2015 22-8
2013-2014 27-4
2012-2013 21-9
2011-2012 23-10
2010-2011 22-9
2009-2010 19-11
2008-2009 23-8
2007-2008 23-8
2006-2007 25-8
2005-2006 22-9
Total 399-175
Win by Percentage 69%