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Eric Bozeman – Head Coach

Eric Bozeman begins his fifth year as head coach at Southern Arkansas this season. After a 6-21 mark his first year, the Bozeman plan has begun to take effect as last season’s squad went 12-14, the most wins for a Southern Arkansas team in seven years.

Prior to coming to SAU, Bozeman was a prized assistant to Ole Miss Head Coach Rod Barnes all seven years that Barnes had guided the Rebels to their most successful era in the history of the program. During Bozeman’s 1998-2004 tenure, Ole Miss advanced to four post-season tournament berths, including the NCAA Tournament’s “Sweet 16” in 2001.

Bozeman joined the Ole Miss staff after directing the Henderson State University program for five years (1993-98). In his last two seasons, Bozeman guided the Reddies to back-to-back 20-win seasons, 20-8 in 1996-97 and 20-9 in 1997-98, and had an overall record of 71-67 at Henderson State. Bozeman was an assistant at HSU for two seasons before being named the head coach.

A native of Little Rock, Bozeman served as athletics director and head coach at Shorter Junior College in Little Rock from 1989-91, and was an assistant coach for Charles Ripley at Little Rock Parkview from 1981-89.

Bozeman played collegiate basketball at Arkansas Tech University and was a unanimous All-Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference (AIC) selection in 1981. He was one of the top scorers in the conference with a 20.9 average, and served as team captain for three seasons from 1979-81. Bozeman played high school basketball at Little Rock Parkview, and was an AAU All-American in 1972.

Bozeman received the William E. Thrasher Boy’s Club “Boy of the Year” in Little Rock in 1971; served as President of the Parkview Senior High School Bi-Racial Committee in 1977; was one of two students to serve on Arkansas Tech University’s NCATE faculty review committee; was named the Outstanding VIP (Volunteers in Public Schools) award winner in the Little Rock School District in 1985; served as a member of Governor Bill Clinton’s task force to develop curfew implementation for youth for the city of Little Rock in 1989; was a member of PARK’s (Positive Atmosphere Reaches Kids) advisory board from 1992-95; served as a member and President of the Board of Directors for the Clark County Boy’s and Girl’s Club from 1992-94; and has been a member of the National Association of Basketball Coaches since 1993.

Bozeman earned his B.S.E. from Arkansas Tech in 1981, and his M.S. from Henderson State in social counseling in 1986. He is married to the former Felicia Boone of Smackover and the couple has two sons, Solomon and Jeremiah. Solomon played for the Arkansas Hawks AAU program and led Magnolia High School to the state championship finals his senior season of 2005-06. Originally signing with Ole Miss out of high school, he changed his commitment and played his freshman season at South Florida, before transferring to UALR where he is now a member of the Trojan basketball program.

Modified: February 10, 2010 at 6:52 pm