Two new coaches were welcomed to Lyon College on Monday, according to Athletic Director Kevin Jenkins.
On Monday, Jenkins announced Casey Fowler (pictured above, left) as the new women’s basketball head coach for the Scots.
“I am excited that Casey Fowler has agreed to become our new head women’s basketball coach,” Jenkins said. “Coach Fowler is very personable and I think he will bond well with the team we already have in place. I feel his love and knowledge of the game will keep our program competing at a high level. He will be a tremendous mentor and role model for our student-athletes plus he will provide great leadership for our program both on and off the court.”
After playing at Drury University, Fowler joined the coaching staff at Drury as a student assistant before joining the United States Navy. He trained at the Naval Special Warfare (NSW) Center in Coronado, Cal., and completed three deployments.
While in the military, Fowler broke three Guinness World Records in NBA Three-Point shooting.
After the military, Fowler accepted the head women’s basketball coaching position at Baptist Bible College in Springfield, Mo., where he restarted the women’s intercollegiate program with a 16-9 record in their inaugural season.
Fowler accepted the head women’s basketball coaching position at Arlington Baptist University in May of 2021, and they finished the 2021-2022 season 19-10 and runner-up at the NCCAA National Tournament.
Fowler comes to Batesville with his wife, Cassie, and sons, Camden and Cohen.
“My family and I are grateful for the opportunity to lead the women’s basketball program at such a high-quality college where everyone is working toward the same goal and supportive of each other from top to bottom,” Fowler said. “We are looking to build on and continue the success of the women’s basketball program and bring an exciting brand of basketball to Batesville. Go Scots!”
Jenkins also announced on Monday that Zach Mizer (pictured above, right) will be the next men’s wrestling coach for the Scots.
“Coach Mizer will be a great asset to our men’s wrestling program, athletic department, and college,” Jenkins said. “He brings years of high-level wrestling knowledge and experience, along with a hard-working attitude.”
Mizer was the head coach of Muskingum University in Ohio from 2014 to 2021. During that time, he coached the school’s first National Qualifier in over a decade and coached four All-Conference, six All-Region, and three scholar All-Americans.
In 2019, Mizer was the National Wrestling Coaches Association Leadership Academy Scholarship Recipient.
“I want to thank Kevin Jenkins and the entire Lyon community for this opportunity,” Mizer said. “I’m excited about the opportunity to continue to build the Scots’ wrestling program. I’m grateful for all that wrestling has taught me and I look forward to being able to mentor the next generation of student-athletes here at Lyon College.”
Mizer spent two years as an assistant wrestling coach at Buena Vista University where his duties included recruiting coordination, organizing and executing practice plans, arranging team travel, assisting in fundraising, and reviewing match film with student-athletes.
During his tenure at Buena Vista, Mizer coached a National Qualifier, three Academic All-Americans, and aided one wrestler in setting a school record for pins (18).
Following the 2013-14 wrestling campaign, Mizer served as co-coach for a group of 12 wrestlers from across the United States that took a trip overseas to practice and compete in Istanbul, Bulgaria, Bucharest, and Paris.
A 2010 graduate of Heidelberg University with a B.S. in History, Mizer was a four-year letter-winner, three-time national qualifier, and two-time MVP for the Student Princes. He posted a career record of 112-42, including a pair of 30-win campaigns, and is second on the school’s all-time career list for wins.
Mizer ended his senior year as national runner-up in the 157-pound weight class. He was also a key member of four consecutive Ohio Athletic Conference tournament championship teams and two OAC regular-season championship squads.
Mizer was the OAC Champion at 149 pounds in 2008. And following graduation, he remained with the program and served as a graduate assistant coach from 2010-12. During that time, Mizer coached 10 All-OAC wrestlers, six Academic All-Americans, and four National Qualifiers.
Mizer comes to Batesville and Lyon College with his wife, Tina, son Wyatt, and daughter Hadley.
Images provided by Lyon College Athletics
Have a news tip or event to promote? Email White River Now at news@whiterivernow.com. Be sure to like and follow us on Facebook and Twitter. And don’t forget to download the White River Now mobile app from the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store.
Get up-to-date local and regional news/weather every weekday morning and afternoon from the First Community Bank Newsroom on Arkansas 103.3 KWOZ. White River Now updates are also aired weekday mornings on 93 KZLE, Outlaw 106.5, and Your FM 99.5.
