Editor: The following is part of a press release from eiupanthers.com.
(Charleston, IL) – Eastern Illinois men’s basketball coach Jay Spoonhour has completed his coaching staff for the 2020-21 season with the hiring of veteran coach Mark Bernsen.
Bernsen, a veteran of more than 40 years at the prep, collegiate and professional level, comes to EIU following a stint coaching in the Irish Super League with the Tralee Warriors. He guided his teams to three straight 20+ win seasons, twice winning the Ireland Super League Trophy while being named the Basketball Ireland Coach of the Year.
He won more than 125 games as a professional coach in the Ireland Super League.
In the United States, Bernsen was the head coach at Moberly Area Community College from 2004-06 leading the team to a 30-7 record and NJCAA National Runner-Up finish in 2005. He was named the Region 16 Coach of the Year. He also served as the head coach Missouri State for three seasons. At Missouri State he led the Bears to the NIT Quarterfinals in 1993 finishing the year with a 20-11 record. He was the head coach at Jefferson Community College for eight seasons winning more than 200 games.
Bernsen has had assistant and associate head coaching roles during his career at Southeast Missouri, Idaho, New Mexico State, Missouri State, Murray State and Missouri St. Louis.
Bernsen was a member of the UMSL 1972 Championship team and has been inducted into both the USML Athletic Hall of Fame.
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Flooding, lightning strikes, etc. have cost @RacersHoops two home games. Had to play 'neutral site' tonight instead of at home and Wednesday's goes from home to away. Tough break for the Racers, and the whole area has been hit with difficulties. #FatherHarry
Murray State's scheduled home game Wednesday vs. Southern Illinois being moved to Banterra Center in Carbondale. #ValleyHoops
Gigantic game for @BradleyUMBB today in Des Moines. If they have a chance to catch @DrakeBulldogsMB, they have to win today. The Bulldogs can basically win the title today. @BustingBrackets breaks it all down. #FatherHarry https://bit.ly/3EGiVgi
Not rooting for any particular @ValleyHoops, but chaos is always fun. If things break certain ways, after today there could be a six-way tie for fifth place.
Fun to listen to @MLBLarry on the @SIU_Basketball/@BelmontMBB game tonight. Good job brother. #FatherHarry
