Men?s Basketball Completes Coaching Staff

MUNCIE, Ind. ? Ball State men's basketball head coach Billy Taylor completed his 2008-09 coaching staff on Wednesday by announcing that Jay Newberry has been promoted to assistant coach and Matt Laur has been named director of basketball operations. The pair round out the Cardinals' staff which also includes assistant coaches Bob Simmons and Joseph Price.

Newberry has spent the past two seasons at Ball State as the director of basketball operations. He has assisted with team academics, scheduling, practice planning, film exchange and game film editing during his time at BSU.

“Jay has really worked hard and given our program a tremendous level of commitment,” Taylor said. “He represents the program well and is a good role model for our student-athletes. Jay has been very loyal to the Ball State basketball program and this promotion on our coaching staff is a reward for his commitment. I look forward to challenging Jay with new responsibilities to help him further grow as a coach.”

Prior to Ball State, Newberry spent two seasons as an assistant coach at Augusta State where he was instrumental in all aspects of the Division II program. During his two seasons, August State posted an overall record of 34-24 and a 5-1 mark against nationally ranked teams.

“"I am very excited about the opportunity Coach Taylor has given me in moving into a new role on the coaching staff,” Newberry said. “I look forward to working together with the entire basketball staff and the team as we continue to build towards a MAC Championship."

Newberry also spent two seasons as an assistant coach and intramural director of Belmont Abbey College and started his collegiate coaching career in 2000 as an assistant coach at Thomas More College. He also had stints as a teacher and coach at Madeira High School and Sycamore High School in Ohio.

Newberry was a four-year letterwinner at Rollins College where he was the team's Most Outstanding Senior and the team captain his final year. He earned his Bachelor's Degree in mathematics in 2000 from Rollins and earned his Master's of Education in Health and Physical Education from Augusta State in 2006.

Newberry and his wife Laurie, have a daughter, Sarah and a son, Matthew.

Laur spent the past season as an assistant coach at Missouri Southern University under head coach Robert Corn. He helped guide the Lions to a 17-11 record last year and a fourth place finish in the MIAA after being picked to finish last in the preseason poll.

“Matt is a quality young man and an excellent coach,” Taylor said. “He brings a variety of experience to our program as a successful student-athlete, as a head coach at the high school level and as an assistant at the collegiate level. We are excited to have Matt, his wife Carrie and their newborn son Ty, join the Ball State basketball family.”

Prior to Missouri Southern, Laur served as head boys' basketball coach for three years at Steeleville High School in Steeleville, Ill. He led Steeleville to a school record 28 wins in 2004-05 and a section finals appearance.

Laur is a 2003 graduate of McKendree College where he was a four-year starter and four-time NAIA All-American. He finished his career as McKendree's all-time leading scorer with 2,874 career points. He also holds the school records in blocked shots and field goal percentage while ranking second in assists and third in rebounds.

Laur recorded double figures in scoring 74 consecutive times and was named the NAIA Division I Player of the Year as a senior. He averaged 23.4 points, 11.8 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game as a senior. He set the single season school records for field goals made (393) and points scored (891), plus was a two-time American Midwest Conference Player of the Year (2001 & 2003) and an AMC Freshman of the Year winner.

Upon graduation, he played professionally in Europe before playing a season with the Columbus River Dragons of the National Basketball Association Developmental League.

Laur and his wife Carrie, have a newborn son Ty.

“I am happy to be here working with such a great staff under head coach Billy Taylor,” Laur said. “I am excited about this opportunity and excited to be part of the Ball State basketball family.”

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Ball State University Athletics

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