BRYAN COLLEGE ATHLETICS - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Health and Wellness Coordinator Assistant Coach
Alex Horton returns to the Lions for his third season as an assistant coach. His first season was during the 2019-2020 year before having to spend a year away in 2020-2021. He will be working with both the men's and women's squads as a goalkeeper-coach, putting to use his expertise between the posts having started all four seasons as the keeper before graduating from Bryan with a Bachelor's degree in Exercise Health Science in 2019.
Horton garnered AAC All-Conference honors all four years while at Bryan, earning a spot on the First Team his freshman year, spending the next two years as a member of the Second Team, and closing out his senior season as a First-Team honoree. A memorable feat accomplished by the Nuneaton, England native was during his sophomore year when he became the first player in program history to be named NAIA Defensive Player of the Week. Horton consistently earned the title of AAC Defensive Player of the Week during his time as a Lion.
Job Titles:
- Administration
- Coordinator of Athletic Operations
Job Titles:
- Director of Sports Information and Development
Clint McAuley is entering his fifth season as the Head Coach of the Bryan College Baseball program, since being promoted from Associate Head Coach in August 2018. He holds a record of 87-41 overall and 39-22 in the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC). McAuley has totaled 10 seasons as a member of the Bryan baseball coaching staff, with five of them spent as the associate head coach.
Since joining the staff in 2011-12, McAuley has been a part of one AAC regular-season title and one AAC tournament title. McAuley has helped the Lions to eight 35-win seasons, and the Lions have qualified for the NAIA Opening Round six times. While at Bryan, he has coached 10 NAIA All-Americans, 43 AAC All-Conference selections, 14 AAC Gold Glove winners, five AAC Freshman of the Year winners, as well as one AAC Player of the Year, Pitcher of the Year, and Newcomer of the Year.
Job Titles:
- Recruiting Coordinator & Assistant Coach
Cody was a four-year standout for the Lions. During his time at Bryan, he was named Freshman of the Year, earned Gold Glove honors, and was named to the All-Conference team twice.
He met his wife, Regan Rhinehart (Robertson), at Bryan and is continuing his education through the Bryan College Difference Maker.
Cody and Regan currently reside in Dayton, Tenn. with their son, Nolan and daughter, Olivia.
David Holcomb is an Advisor and Sensei for the Bryan College Martial Arts Academy program. He designed the development program to provide students a balanced mix of martial arts training and spiritual formation.
"To be able to bring together the two things that influenced my life the most - my martial arts training and my Bryan College experience - is truly an honor," Holcomb said.
As a native of Chile, Felipe Arias came to Bryan in 1993 to further his education and play soccer. Felipe made significant impacts in the classroom, on the soccer field, and on the stage as part of the music department. Felipe received his B.A. in Psychology from Bryan in 1997 followed by his M.A in Mental Health Counseling from Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando, FL. Felipe has significant experience in a variety of areas. He served as part of the pastoral staff at churches in Maine and Texas. Felipe also spent 7 years at Texas A&M International University in Laredo, Texas where he served as the Head Women's Soccer Coach, the Associate Head Men's Soccer Coach, and an Athletic Compliance Coordinator. Most significantly, he and his wife Brigitte have been married for over 32 years and have 4 children (Melanie, Paula, Gabriel, and Samuel).
Job Titles:
- Coach of the Bryan College
- Head Women 's Basketball Coach
Gabe Johnson enters his second season as head coach of the Bryan College women's basketball program and his fourth season at Bryan overall. Under Johnson's leadership the Lady Lions have continued their long tradition of excellence. Johnson's initial season (2022-23) saw the Lady Lions finish 27-5 overall and 23-1 in Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) play, finishing first in the regular-season and runner-up in the tournament. The Lady Lions received a NAIA National Tournament bid and numerous players received individual accolades: Destiny Kassner (AAC Player of the Year, AAC First-Team All Conference, NAIA All-American Honorable Mention), Kaitlynn Hennessee (AAC Defensive Player of the Year, AAC First Team All-Conference, AAC All-Defensive Team, NAIA All-American Honorable Mention), Samantha Russell (AAC First Team All-Conference, NAIA All-American Honorable Mention), and Kadee Ferrell (AAC All-Freshman Team). Johnson served on the staff of the men's basketball program in two stints, as Associate Head Coach (2021-23) and Assistant Coach (2012-13). Serving as the top assistant for Don Rekoske's staff the last two seasons, Johnson was part of two winning campaigns, two consecutive 4th place regular season finishes in conference, and a conference tournament runner-up finish in 2023. Johnson played high school basketball at Tennessee Temple Academy in Chattanooga for the legendary Kevin Templeton. Johnson was All-District, All-City and All-State. He averaged 22 points per game his senior season and led Temple to the TSSAA Class A State Tournament finals. Johnson, a graduate of Bryan (B.S. Business Management), enjoyed a basketball career of his own with the Lions (2003-2005). He was a two-year starter and captain. He averaged 13 points per game and led the NAIA in steals his final season at Bryan. After finishing his collegiate playing career at Bryan, Johnson began coaching basketball in the Chattanooga area. He served as an assistant coach at Grace Baptist Academy (2005-2012), Silverdale Baptist Academy (2014-18), and Boyd Buchanan School (2018-21). While at Boyd Buchanan, Johnson was part of a basketball renaissance, helping the boys (2020, 2021) and girls (2021) programs make state tournament appearances. Johnson has also been heavily involved in player development, camps, and AAU basketball. He has directed the Warrior Culture Basketball Organization since 2020. Previously, he served as director of Pro Skills Basketball Chattanooga (2018-20) and the Chattanooga Force (2014-18). At each role Johnson managed multiple-teams recruited and trained coaches, oversaw program finances and marketing, and helped players work towards their full potential.
Johnson resides in Ooltewah with his wife Abbey. They have four children and one grandchild.
Jake Goins is entering his third season as the Head Coach for the Bryan College Golf programs heading into the 2021-2022 season. He oversees both the men's and women's varsity and junior varsity squads after spending nine years as the assistant coach from 2010-2019.
Last year, Goins elevated the standard of excellence for both the men's and women's programs. The women's team was led by sophomore Alisa Marie Caraballo, who finished in the Top 10 in seven of the eight tournaments she competed in. She also finished 5th at the AAC Spring Championship to earn a spot on the All-Conference Second Team. The men's program also reached new heights last year. They had a golfer finish Top 10 in four of the eight tournaments they competed in.
In his first season as Head Coach, the men's and women's teams showed tremendous improvement throughout the fall. The women's team earned their first tournament win in program history with 14 golfers finishing in the top-20 individually during the season. Alisa Marie Caraballo had a stellar freshman season and finished in the top-20 in every tournament with three being in the top-5. Beginning the fall with finishes in the bottom half of multiple tournaments, the men's team steadily improved to finish their last two tournaments in the top 4. Individually, the squad placed 11 golfers in the top-20 throughout the season.
With the help of Goins and under the tutelage of Bollant, the Bryan golf teams saw extraordinary success. Several Lions garnered individual achievements such as the duo of Audrey Nelson and Krista Reinhardt collecting AAC Individual Championships, Reinhardt being honored as AAC Player of the Year, Reinhardt securing five medalist finishes, and Dean Hoare producing four, and Reinhardt setting the AAC record two-day score in the conference championship tournament. Both coached the Lions to numerous All-Conference players, but the excellence also trickled over into the classroom with a substantial amount of their student-athletes being named to the AAC All-Academic Team, as well as, NAIA Daktronics Scholar-Athletes.
Goins and his family have been tremendously influential in the Bryan golf program, both in the sport and spiritually. His wife, Amber, has been involved with discipleship with the women's program. He has done the same with the men's team, as well as, directed practices while acting as the swing coach for both squads. Goins is one of the top golf instructors in the Dayton area and has won many tournaments in Tennessee and the Southeast.
"I'm thankful to Bryan for trusting me in this role and providing me the opportunity to continue serving the Lions' golf program," said Goins. "Bollant has left his mark, growing this program into an accomplished unit in both the AAC and NAIA. I look forward to continuing the strong tradition of golf at Bryan.
Jake and Amber currently reside in Dayton, Tennessee with their two sons, Wyatt and Beckett.
Jeremy Davidson is entering his fourth season as the Head Coach of the Bryan College Men's Soccer program. Over the previous three years, he is 21-24-4 overall with a 17-14-3 record in the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC).
Job Titles:
- Head Coach & Senior Woman Leader
David Perron is entering his seventh season as the assistant fishing coach under head coach Mike Keen. Coach Perron is a full-time faculty member at Bryan College as the Chair of the Exercise & Health Science Department
Perron's background as a tournament fisherman gives him a great foundation as a coach. Perron has been fishing in tournaments for the past 20 seasons enjoying not just the fishing but the competition as well: "My days playing sports are over but tournament fishing allows me to continue to compete."
Perron came to Bryan from Bluefield College where he was the soccer coach as well as a faculty member. "When God moved us to Dayton, He answered many of our prayers! I get to work at a fantastic Christian college and I am in the midst of some of the best bass fishing lakes in the country! I love it here," Perron remarked about his move.
Job Titles:
- Director of Sports Medicine