Ron Lievense, the winningest men's coach in Barton's NCAA D-II history with an impressive 206-102 record (66.9%), is completing his 11^th season at the helm of the Bulldogs.

Lievense, who was the National Association of Basketball Coaches East Region Coach of the Year this past season, earned 100 Barton victories faster than any other Bulldog coach (after 180 games).  He has coached eight regionally ranked teams and has taken four teams to the NCAA Tournament (1997, 2003, 2006, and 2007).  Not only have his teams attained regional and national recognition, but the Bulldogs have been very strong in the Carolinas-Virginia Athletics Conference (CVAC), winning 147 of 217 games (67.7%), including a sparkling 37-3 record the past two seasons en route to regular season and tournament titles in the league that has won the last eight East Region championships.

He has been voted Coach of the Year in the CVAC four times (1997, 2003, 2006 and 2007) and has been blessed to coach seven teams to the best records in the school's NCAA D-II history: 22-5 in 1997; 19-9 in 2002; 22-6 in 2003; 17-10 in 2004; 18-11 in 2005; 28-4 in 2006; and 28-5 in 2007 heading into the Elite Eight.

Lievense has a vast coaching background that covers 26 years of college basketball.  He previously coached at Saint Andrews College (D-II), Campbell University (D-I), Averett University (D-III), Winona State University (D-II), Normandale Community College, and Thomas Jefferson High School.

He played prep basketball at Thomas Jefferson High School in Bloomington, MN, where his team won the state title.  Collegiately, he played at Normandale Community College for two years and at Northwestern College in St. Paul, MN his final two years where he earned All-American honors while leading his team to the National Christian Colleges Athletic Association D-II title as a senior.

He earned an Associate Arts degree from Normandale Community College, a Bachelor of Arts degree from St. Thomas College, and a Master of Science degree from Winona State University.

Lievense, who played for his father at Normandale, is married to Darla K. Lievense.  They have three daughters:  Tiffany 17, Kristy 15, and Angela 12.

Lievense has also been one of Barton's sponsors for a vibrant Fellowship of Christian Athletes chapter since its inception nine years ago.

                                                      Ron Lievense era at Barton