RUSSELLVILLE – Harding University secured the 2016-17 Great American Conference All-Sports Trophy after completing an academic calendar that saw three teams finish their seasons ranked in the top 10.

Harding finished the 2016-17 athletic year with a total of 85 points, 7.5 points ahead of Arkansas Tech, the five-time all-sports champion. The Lady Bisons added a regular-season title in softball to the program’s year-long haul of trophies that included championships in football, volleyball and women’s basketball. In addition the men’s and women’s soccer teams added GAC Tournament titles and the men’s golf team earned a trip to the NCAA Regionals for the first time in program history.

“It was just one of those exceptional years where everything fell into place,” Harding Athletic Director Greg Harnden said. “We had great leadership from our coaches and outstanding performances from our student-athletes.”

Arkansas Tech closed in the spring with top-three finishes in all five counting sports – women’s tennis, men’s and women’s golf, baseball and softball – to move up from seventh in the fall and third after the winter to take second place. The women’s golf team won their third-straight GAC Championship crown and claimed the NCAA Division II Women’s Golf Central Super Regional title. The men also made it to nationals where they rallied to qualify for match play where they took out the tournament’s top seed, Barry, before they fell in the national semifinals.

Southern Arkansas made a major move up the All-Sports standings as it finished in third after sitting in eighth after the winter season, a half-point ahead of Henderson State and one point clear of Southwestern Oklahoma State. The Muleriders won their fourth regular-season title in baseball and took second in softball. Both programs went on to NCAA Regional play.

Henderson State made a similar jump, climbing to fourth from ninth. The Reddies won their fourth-straight championship in men’s golf and took second in women’s golf. Both qualified for regionals and the women advanced to nationals for the first time in program history.

SWOSU took fifth in the final standings. Both golf teams finished third at the GAC Championships and both earned at-large bids to the NCAA Regionals. For the second-straight year, Southern Nazarene moved up two places. The Crimson Storm finished in sixth place with 51.5 points, 1.5 points ahead of East Central and two points more than Arkansas-Monticello. UAM repeated as GAC Baseball Tournament champions.

Southeastern Oklahoma State and Ouachita tied for ninth, followed by Northwestern Oklahoma State. The Savage Storm won their first outright regular-season title in women’s tennis. They went on to claim the GAC Tournament championship and earn a trip to NCAA Regionals. After two regional wins, they advanced to the National Championships for the first time where the defeated New York Institute of Tech before bowing out in the national quarterfinals.

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2016 will be Harding head football coach Ronnie Huckeba’s senior season.

Huckeba announced Wednesday that he will retire when the season ends. Athletic Director Greg Harnden named Paul Simmons, Harding’s current defensive coordinator, as the head coach beginning in 2017. Simmons will be the 13th head football coach in program history and sixth since Harding restarted intercollegiate football in 1959.

“I am a very lucky man,” Huckeba said. “It has been such a blessing to be part of Harding football since 1973, and I am beyond excited for the start of the 2016 season. I am looking at this year as my senior season as a coach at Harding, and your senior season comes with an even greater sense of urgency. I am thankful to share this season with a very special group of coaches, players and support personnel.”

Huckeba is entering his 10th season as head coach of the Bisons and his 31st on the coaching staff. He has led Harding to four consecutive winning seasons that included three straight nine-win campaigns and three postseason appearances.

“I am ever grateful to Dr. David Burks, Greg Harnden and Dr. Bruce McLarty for their continued faith and support during my time as a coach at Harding,” Huckeba said.

“Coach Huckeba has been very special to our football program,” Harnden said. “He is a great on-the-field coach and outstanding motivator. He cares about his players, more than anyone knows, both on and off the field. Coach Huckeba also is a great friend.”

Huckeba was a standout offensive lineman for the Bisons from 1973-76 and started at guard on Harding’s 1976 Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference co-championship squad.

Simmons is entering his 11th season as an assistant coach at Harding. He has coached the defensive line in his first 10 seasons and added the title of assistant head coach in 2008. Simmons has been Harding’s defensive coordinator since 2010 and has overseen a powerful squad.

“I am so pleased that Coach Simmons will lead the program after this season,” Huckeba said. “He has been my right-hand man since I became head coach and has been a major reason for our success.”

In 2010, Harding’s defense led the nation and set a school record with 43 sacks. In the last five seasons, the Bisons have led the conference in total defense four times and scoring and rush defense three times. Simmons’ defenses have regularly finished among Division II’s best in run prevention and sacks.

“Coach Simmons has the needed experience to lead our program,” Harnden said. “He is a great recruiter, fundraiser and a great example for our young men. Harding is extremely fortunate to have Coach Simmons on our staff and ready to take the reins of the football program.”

Simmons was a three-time All-America honoree at Harding as a linebacker and defensive end. He compiled 415 career tackles and 18 sacks and was inducted into the Harding Athletics Hall of Fame in 1999.

“Harding football has been an unbelievable blessing in my life,” Simmons said. “A great deal of who I am as a Christian man, father and husband, I learned during my time playing football here at Harding. I am extremely grateful for and humbled by this opportunity.”

Most of Harding’s 2016 team arrived Wednesday, and practices begin Thursday in preparation for the Bisons’ season and home opener against Oklahoma Baptist on Saturday, Sept. 3, at 6 p.m.

“It is my desire that we keep the focus on our football team and not on me during the course of this season,” Huckeba said. “We, as a team, have every intention of making 2016 a year to remember!”

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