Gouard Named USI Men’s Basketball Head Coach
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Department of Athletics announced the hiring of USI alumnus Stan Gouard ’99 as its new Men’s Basketball head coach. He becomes the 10th head coach in the history of the program.
“I was very excited that Stan had an interest in coming back to USI, a place he considers home,” said Jon Mark Hall, USI Director of Athletics. “Stan has been a part of the USI Athletic family as a player, assistant coach, and now the leader of the program. USI is very excited to have Stan back as a Screaming Eagle.”
“I want to thank USI President (Ronald) Rochon, Jon Mark Hall, and the search committee for this opportunity,” said Gouard. “I told my wife and daughter, we are Screaming EAGLES again! Words can not express how excited we are to be returning to Evansville and to the University of Southern Indiana.
“I also want to thank everyone at the University of Indianapolis for 12 wonderful years,” continued Gouard. “President (Robert) Manuel, Dr. (Sue) Willey, and Scott Young have been a tremendous support and am grateful for those relationships that allowed us to accomplish so much together. The opportunity to coach some of the best student athletes at UIndy comes to a bittersweet end and it saddens me to part ways from this team. We have accomplished so much, both on the court and off the court. I trust that my guys know that I am only a phone call away if they ever need anything.
“My family and I are excited about this new chapter in our lives and can’t wait to begin building relationships with our student athletes and their families,” concluded Gouard. “Go EAGLES!!”
Over the last 12 seasons, Gouard (pronounced juh-RARD) has lifted the Greyhound men’s basketball program back to national prominence. That success has included eight NCAA Division II Tournament appearances (2010-2016, 2020); multiple All-Americans, a number one ranking (2014-15 season); and the 2014 GLVC Coach of the Year honor.
In 2019-20, Gouard directed the Greyhounds to a 24-6 overall record; a second place finish in the GLVC Point Ratings; a third place showing in the GLVC standings with a 15-5 league mark; and a number one seeding in the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional. Gouard and UIndy were set to host the 2020 NCAA II Midwest Regional until it was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Gouard has now spent over 20 years in college basketball. The stint includes four years as a student-athlete at USI and John A. Logan College (1992-1996); seven as an assistant coach with the Screaming Eagles (2001-02), UIndy (2002-05) and Indiana State (2005-08); and 12 as a head coach of the Greyhounds (2008-present).
Gouard became the fastest UIndy head coach to reach 150 victories when his 2015-16 team reached 20-wins for the fifth consecutive season. The 150th victory came in the NCAA II Midwest Regional when the Greyhounds defeated 12th-ranked Ashland University.
UIndy made headlines during the 2010-11 preseason when they went on the road and defeated Division I/23rd-ranked University of Tennessee, 79-64, in Knoxville. Gouard and the Greyhounds opened eyes right away in 2009-10, defeating NCAA Division I Valparaiso University, 88-83, in the team’s first exhibition game.
Prior to coming the UIndy, Gouard was an assistant at Indiana State University for three seasons from 2005-08. Gouard mentored the Sycamore post players, including Missouri Valley Conference All-Freshman and All-Bench Team selection Isiah Martin, who broke the single-season blocks record at ISU by a freshman and led the entire conference in blocked shots.
As a player, Gouard helped lead the Eagles to national prominence over his three seasons. USI won the NCAA Division II national championship in 1995; reached the NCAA II Tournament finals in 1994; and was ranked number one nationally in 1995-96 before the Eagles were the top seed in the NCAA II Midwest Regional under former head coach Bruce Pearl. The Eagles also won two GLVC championships with Gouard, while soaring to an 82-12 three-year record.
Gouard was honored for his outstanding play by being named the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Division II National Player of the Year in 1995 and 1996. He also was recognized as the NCAA II Elite Eight Most Outstanding Player and the CBS/Chevrolet Player of the Game in 1994. He was inducted into the John A. Logan College Hall of Fame in 1998; the Great Lakes Valley Conference Hall of Fame in 2003; and the USI Athletic Hall of Fame in 2007. He also received the key to the city of Evansville in 1996.
Following his collegiate career, Gouard played professionally for the Barrinquilla Ciamanes of Columbia, South America, leading his team to the 1999 championship. Gouard also led his Sundsvall Dragon team in Sweden to the playoffs.
As native of Danville, Illinois, Gouard earned his bachelor of science in communications from USI. He and his wife Chasity have a daughter, Kennedy Noelle, who was born in December of 2009.
