Maranatha Baptist Bible announced that Neal Ring has accepted the position of head men’s basketball coach. Ring, a 1998 graduate of Northland Baptist Bible, has earned a master’s degree from the United States Sports Academy and is currently a candidate for a doctorate from the school in sports management with an emphasis in leadership.  

Ring is currently working as a grassroots basketball advisor for On Court Player Development, which is based in Atlanta. He replaces Rob Cronin, who served as the head men’s basketball coach and dean of men for five years, compiling a record of 19-87 (.179).  

Ring started out as a junior high boys’ basketball coach for two years at Union Grove Christian School in Union Grove, Wis.  Ring then coached high school basketball for 12 years and served four years as an assistant at Northland Baptist Bible and North Carolina Wesleyan. Ring has also served as a high school athletic director at Christian high schools in Arkansas, North Carolina, and Wisconsin.

While working on the doctorate degree, Ring returned to Union Grove Christian School to serve as a volunteer assistant coach for skill development for coach Lee Morey.

“This is the realization of my dream to become a college head basketball coach,” Ring said. “Maranatha represents an opportunity to use the game of basketball as a platform for discipleship with a group of men who will become leaders for this next generation. I take that responsibility very seriously and look forward to seeing how God will use this program to sharpen lives for His glory.”

“Expectations can be difficult to establish before a team and coaching staff spend time together preparing for a season,” Ring added. “Whether we are in a practice or a game, I expect us to strive for three things: to be a great team in action and attitude, to get after our opponent defensively, and to be hard to guard offensively.  If we accomplish these three things, then the scoreboard will take care of itself.”