NEO Women's Basketball Coaching Staff

Jim Rowland

Year: 3rd Year
Position: Head Coach
Alma Mater: Univ. of Central Oklahoma
Email: jrowland@neo.edu
Telephone: 918.540.6326

Jim Rowland enters his third year as the Head Women’s Basketball coach at North Eastern Oklahoma A&M College in 2007-2008. In two years as head coach, Rowland has guided the Lady Norse basketball program to a 47-17 overall record. In his first season Rowland’s effort guided the Lady Norse to a 22-9 record and Region II runner up. As head coach Rowland has kept the Lady Norse basketball program tradition a continued success. In 2006-2007, the Lady Norse returned to the NJCAA National Tournament since 2003. Rowland captured his first Region II Championship with a 25-8 record. Rowland’s accomplishment’s in 2006-2007 as Head Coach was recognized by being named NJCAA District B Coach of the year.

Before taking over head Coach, Rowland was an assistant for the Golden Norse Men’s Basketball program in 2001-2002 under Lonnie Spencer. 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 6^th place finish in the National Tournament. Rowland now has coached 4 All-Americans and 6 All-Region II players.

Rowland is a 1986 graduate of Pawhuska high School. He received an athletic scholarship to play football at North Western Oklahoma State University, where a neck injury ended his athletic career. Rowland transferred to Central State University where it later became the University of Central Oklahoma where he earned a Bachelors Degree in Physical Education in 1992. Rowland is married to Tonya Rowland and together they have two daughters: Haiden 14 and Tori 12.

Jim Rowland's Coaching Career Record at NEO

YEAR OVERALL (W-L) POST SEASON RESULTS

2005-2006 22-9 Region II Runner Up

2006-2007 25-8 Region II Champions

2007-2008 23-8 Region II Runner Up

TOTAL 70-25

Soraya Swinton

Year: 1st Year

Position: Assistant Coach

Alma Mater: East Carolina University,

North Eastern Oklahoma A&M

Email: sswinton@neo.edu

Telephone: 918-540-6485

Cell: 918-320-0036

Soraya enters her first year of coaching at North Eastern Oklahoma A&M. Soraya is no stranger to the winning tradition of the Lady Norse and will be working predominately with the post players. As a New Zealand Native, Soraya represented New Zealand Basketball in all age groups starting from under 15’s to under 22’s through out her highschool career. In 2000 after graduating from Selwyn High school in Auckland New Zealand she traveled to Oklahoma to start her collegiate career at North Eastern Oklahoma A&M (NEO). In her two years at NEO, the Lady Norse won back to back Region II championships and finished runners up at the National Tournament her freshmen year with a record of 35-1 and her sophomore year finishing 6^th with a record of 28-7. After graduating from NEO, Soraya transferred to East Carolina University where she finished up her collegiate career with the Lady Pirates playing in Conference USA. In 2005-2006 Soraya worked with the Lady Pirates as a Student Assistant Coach after her playing eligibility was up. Soraya graduated with a BS in Communication and a minor in Graphic Design on July 2006 from East Carolina University. Soraya is married to Malik H. Swinton.