GENEVA - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Coach
- Head
- Member of the Experienced & Accomplished Faculty Team
- Assistant Professor of Physical Education and Head Coach of Baseball
- Head Baseball Coach
Alan Sumner has been head baseball coach since 1988, making the 2024 season his 36th season leading the Golden Tornadoes. During his career, which is the longest in Geneva College history, he has reached some significant milestones, like becoming the only Geneva coach in any sport to reach 600 victories. With an overall record of 678-711-4, Sumner has won more games as a Geneva coach than any other coach in any sport.
Sumner began his Geneva career as a student-athlete. He still holds the school record for 183 consecutive games played. After graduation, Sumner became an assistant coach with the Golden Tornadoes prior to taking over as the head coach for one season in 1988 before taking over the reins for good in 1990.
During his tenure, Sumner has led Geneva to a pair of NAIA World Series appearances and numerous trips to the NCCAA nationals.
"We have built something very special at Geneva College," said Sumner. "We have a great group of guys who have experienced success based on their hard work and dedication. It is very rewarding to see that hard work pay off with success on the field. "
After his undergraduate work at Geneva, Sumner moved on to the U.S. Sports Academy where he received his master's in Sport Management. Sumner continues to work in that field as a teacher in Geneva's sport management major.
"We have a great thing going on at Geneva," said Sumner. "I have been around this campus for a long time and I am convinced that Geneva is a tremendous place for student-athletes to grow in all aspects of their lives."
Sumner's baseball team has continued to grow and prosper throughout his tenure at the helm. "We take pride in having our teams compete at a very high level. But we also demand student-athletes with great character and a commitment to academics. Our job as coaches is to develop these athletes in more than just x's and o's. We feel as though we are making a difference in the lives of these young men, both in athletics and in life."
Sumner and his wife Linda, the former Geneva women's soccer coach, reside in Chippewa Township.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Women 's Volleyball Coach
- Interim Associate Head Men 's Volleyball Coach
Job Titles:
- Assistant Softball Coach
- Assistant Softball Coach / Softball
Job Titles:
- Assistant Track and Field Coach
Job Titles:
- Graduate Assistant Baseball Coach
Job Titles:
- Assistant Women 's Soccer Coach
Job Titles:
- Associate Head Men 's Tennis Coach
Job Titles:
- Sports Information Assistant
- Title / Sports Information Assistant
Ben Wiegers works part-time in Geneva College's athletic department as the Sports Information Assistant, underneath Sports Information Director (SID) Chris Mathews. After graduating from Geneva in the fall of 2023, Ben moved into his role at the start of the Spring 2024 semester. During his 3.5 years at Geneva, he could be heard calling games for the PAC Digital Network's live streamed broadcasts of Geneva's men's and women's basketball and soccer teams, as well as on the public address microphone for men's and women's volleyball.
Job Titles:
- Volunteer Assistant Men 's Tennis Coach
Job Titles:
- Assistant Cross Country and Track and Field Coach
Brent Leber joined the Geneva cross country and track and field programs as an assistant coach at the beginning of the 2023-24 school year. Brent had a decorated running career in high school and college. He ran one year at nearby Shenango High School before becoming one of the top distance runners ever at Lipscomb University, where he graduated with a Bachelor's in Exercise Science and a Master's in Organizational Leadership.
Brent holds two school records at Lipscomb, the indoor 5,000 meters and the outdoor 10,000 meters. He was the first cross country runner in Lipscomb's history to qualify for the NCAA Division I Cross Country National Championships in 2019, after winning the Atlantic Sun (ASUN) Conference Cross Country individual championship, leading his squad to the ASUN team championship by one point. He was named an Academic All-American that year, and at the conclusion of the 2019-20 school year he was named the Atlantic Sun Conference Male Student Athlete of the Year (for all sports).
Brent was planning to sign a professional running contract to run for ASICS Greenville Track Club Elite before suffering a career-ending ankle injury and turning his focus towards coaching.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Experienced & Accomplished Faculty Team
- Associate Professor of Business and Accounting
Job Titles:
- International Student Admissions Counselor
Job Titles:
- Women 's Volleyball Student Assistant
Charity Davis started at Geneva College in February 2017 as the Intern Athletic Trainer before becoming a full time Athletic Trainer in 2019. The 2023-2024 academic years marks her second year as the Head Athletic Trainer.
Originally from Windsor, CA, Davis earned her B.S degree in Athletic Training from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 2015. Charity then went on to earn her M.S. in Exercise Science with a concentration in Wellness and Performance from Liberty University. She currently is certified as a CPR/First Aid instructor through the American Red Cross and is certified in blood flow restrictive training which is used in the clinic for post-surgical rehabilitation.
When asked why she loves athletic training, Charity responded, "I have always been involved in sports and interested in the medical field. Athletic training allows me to combine my love for sports and my passion for serving and helping people."
Job Titles:
- Director of Sports Information
- Title / Director of Sports Information
Chris Mathews was named Sports Information Director (SID) in the fall of 2017. Mathews graduated from Geneva College in 2000 and was involved heavily in the sports information department during his four years in school. He maintained a presence in the department over the years as a statistical liaison for both football and basketball, and he also did radio for the men's and women's basketball programs for a number of years. Because of his familiarity with the athletic department and his love for Geneva College, he was a natural fit to take over the position when it opened up.
"To say the Sports Information Director's job was a life-long dream for Chris would not be that far-fetched," said Director of Athletics Van Zanic. "Chris' passion for athletics, his love of Geneva College and his unwavering support for the Golden Tornadoes made him an excellent choice for our Sports Information Director. He bleeds Geneva black and gold and is an absolutely perfect fit for our department and for the College. I am overjoyed that we were able to bring Chris into our Geneva family."
Chris is married to Colleen, who is also a 2000 graduate of Geneva, and they have five children: Katelyn (19), who attends Geneva, and Titus (16), Lydia (14), Elise (12) and Caleb (9). They reside on nearby College Hill.
Job Titles:
- Vice President of Information Technology
Job Titles:
- Member of the Experienced & Accomplished Faculty Team
- Professor of Business and Chair, Tannehill Department of Business, Accounting, and Sport Management MBA Program Director
Job Titles:
- Assistant Football Coach - Special Teams Coordinator / LBs
Colby Brock joined the Geneva College football program in the spring of 2022, overseeing special teams and the secondary. Two of his defensive backs, O'Neal Cotton and Damian Lomeli, earned All-PAC honors in 2022, while Hilton McClain Jr. received All-NCCAA honors for his work as a kick returner. In 2023, Brock will be working with the special teams and linebackers.
Brock, from Chiefland, Florida, spent the first seven years of his coaching career coaching high school football, beginning with Chiefland High School in 2013. In 2021, he coached at Samford University where he was the Defensive Quality Control Coach, helping oversee the linebackers.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Experienced & Accomplished Faculty Team
- Associate Professor of Business
Job Titles:
- Assistant Men 's Soccer Coach
Job Titles:
- Member of the Experienced & Accomplished Faculty Team
- Associate Professor of Business
Job Titles:
- Member of the Experienced & Accomplished Faculty Team
- Associate Professor of Business
Job Titles:
- Assistant Football Coach - Cornerbacks
Job Titles:
- Assistant Football Coach - Quarterbacks
Job Titles:
- Trustee Secretary / Engineer
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Trustees
- Executive Director of Beyond Walls Ministries, Senior Pastor of Little Zion Baptist Church
Job Titles:
- V.P. of Student Development / Title IX Coordinator
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Trustees
- Trustee Vice - Chair / Professor of Linguistics
Job Titles:
- Meet the President
- Provost / CAO
Job Titles:
- Volunteer Assistant Men 's Basketball Coach
Job Titles:
- Assistant Women 's Soccer Coach
- Head Women 's Lacrosse Coach
Job Titles:
- Volunteer Assistant Women 's Tennis Coach
Job Titles:
- Member of the Experienced & Accomplished Faculty Team
- Assistant Professor of Physical Education and Head Men 's Soccer Coach
Job Titles:
- Member of the Experienced & Accomplished Faculty Team
- Assistant Professor of Business and Head Football Coach
Job Titles:
- Assistant Men 's Soccer Coach
Job Titles:
- Assistant for Global Students
Job Titles:
- Assistant Track and Field Coach
- Head Men's and Women 's Golf Coach
Henry Kennedy will be leading the men's and women's golf programs for his second season entering the 2023-24 school year. In his first year as a golf coach, the men posted nine of the top ten lowest team scores and all ten of the top individual scores. The men went 4-1 in dual matches and repeated as the Kent State Tuscawaras Invitational champions.
Kennedy graduated from Geneva in 2019 with a Sports Management Degree, with a minor in Coaching. He is also a member of the US Army, graduating from basic training in 2017. He was a four-year member of Geneva's track and field program during his college days and has since assistant with the track and field program after graduation.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Trustees
Job Titles:
- Assistant Softball Coach / Softball
Job Titles:
- Assistant Cross Country Coach
Job Titles:
- Assistant Men 's Basketball Coach
Job Titles:
- Volunteer Assistant Women 's Basketball Coach
Job Titles:
- Member of the Experienced & Accomplished Faculty Team
- Assistant Professor of Physical Education, Head Coach Men 's Basketball
- Head Men 's Basketball Coach
Job Titles:
- Professor of History & Faculty Liaison for Global Programs
Job Titles:
- Assistant Women 's Basketball Coach
Job Titles:
- Assistant Football Coach - DL / Co - DC
Job Titles:
- Assistant Softball Coach / Softball
Job Titles:
- Associate Vice President for International Education
Job Titles:
- Assistant Football Coach - Strength and Conditioning
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Trustees
- Lawyer
Job Titles:
- Member of the Experienced & Accomplished Faculty Team
- Assistant Professor of Accounting
Job Titles:
- Assistant Football Coach - Receivers
- Assistant Men 's Basketball Coach
Job Titles:
- Assistant Women 's Basketball Coach
Job Titles:
- Assistant Men 's Soccer Coach
Job Titles:
- Coach
- Head
- Head Tennis Coach
Job Titles:
- Crossroads Program Coordinator
Job Titles:
- Member of the Experienced & Accomplished Faculty Team
- Associate Professor of Business
Job Titles:
- Head Women 's Soccer Coach
Job Titles:
- Head Women 's Basketball Coach
Job Titles:
- Assistant Men 's Basketball Coach
Job Titles:
- Managing Director - Global Compliance & Reporting Tax Services at EY
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Trustees
- President, Howell Executive Solutions, LLC
Job Titles:
- CEO, Faith Without Borders, LLC
Job Titles:
- Assistant Dean of Developement
Job Titles:
- Senior Business Executive
Job Titles:
- Trustee Chair / Executive Director, One Mission Society
Job Titles:
- Portfolio Manager at CooksonPeirce Wealth Management
Job Titles:
- Director of Institutional Advancement at the Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Trustees
- Tax Manager
Job Titles:
- Managing Director, Cyber and Risk / Ernst & Young LLP
Job Titles:
- Attorney / School Administrator / Entrepreneur
Job Titles:
- Women 's Volleyball Volunteer Assistant
Job Titles:
- Volunteer Assistant Men 's Basketball Coach
Job Titles:
- Director of Track and Field and Cross Country
Job Titles:
- Assistant Director of Athletics
Job Titles:
- Volunteer Assistant Softball Coach
Job Titles:
- Member of the Experienced & Accomplished Faculty Team
- Associate Professor of Economics
Job Titles:
- V.P. of Business and Finance
Job Titles:
- Assistant Football Coach - Offensive Coordinator
Job Titles:
- Assistant Head Football Coach - Co - DC / DBs
Job Titles:
- Coach
- Head
- Chief Athletic Officer / Director of Athletics & Head Softball Coach
- Head Softball Coach & Chief Athletics Officer / Director of Athletics
The 2024 season is Head Coach Van Zanic's 22nd season as the head coach for Geneva's softball team. Zanic reached 500 career wins with a doubleheader sweep at Saint Vincent on April 25, 2023, bringing his career record to 504-349, the most wins by a coach in program history.
The 2021 season under Zanic's direction proved to be one of the best in school history. Geneva finished the year 36-5 overall, finishing first in the PAC regular season standings with 16-2 conference record, the first time the Golden Tornadoes atop the PAC regular season standings. Geneva hosted the PAC Championship and won all three games to win its second PAC Championship since joining the conference.
Zanic began his coaching career at Geneva as an assistant during the years of 2000 and 2001. He served as Geneva's full-time sports information director for 15 years before taking over as athletic director in the summer of 2013.
Zanic has led the Golden Tornadoes to the post-season in 15 of his 19 years (not including the 2020 season that was cut short due to COVID-19), including five regional tournament appearances and four NCCAA national tournament stints. The Golden Tornadoes won the Presidents' Athletic Conference Championship in 2012, in addition to their championship in 2021. During his tenure, 91 student-athletes have received All-Conference recognition. In addition, 91 student-athletes have received academic honors, while 13 players have been named NCCAA All-Americans. "I think more than anything else that we have accomplished, I am most proud of the work that has been done in the classroom," Zanic said. "Our ladies are dedicated student-athletes, who take great pride in their academic career. This past spring our women registered a 3.4 team GPA, which is a great testament to the dedication our ladies have in the classroom."
Job Titles:
- Head Women 's Volleyball Coach
- Interim Head Men 's Volleyball Coach
Job Titles:
- Assistant Football Coach - RBs
Job Titles:
- Graduate Assistant Football Coach - Safeties
Job Titles:
- Vice President of Enrollment and Marketing