- Athletics
- Academic
A&M-Texarkana Athletics Holds Introductory Press Conference for New Sports and Head Coaches
TEXARKANA, Texas – The Texas A&M University-Texarkana Athletic Department held an introductory press conference on Thursday, July 10th at 10:00 a.m. in the Patterson Student Center on the A&M-Texarkana Campus. During the press conference the athletic department introduced the newest sports to the Eagles program and their respective head coaches, as well as other coaches who are new to the athletic department and/or recently promoted to head coaching positions. University President Dr. Ross Alexander and Director of Athletics Ryan Wall spoke in front of a large crowd, and the entire athletic department coaching staff was on hand for the event.
For the academic year beginning with the Fall 2025 semester A&M-Texarkana will add men’s and women’s bowling, men’s and women’s golf, and men’s and women’s indoor/outdoor track and field to the athletic department lineup. A&M-Texarkana has had a successful cross-country program for several years and runners have occasionally crossed over and participated in track events, but this is the first time the department will field full men’s and women’s track and field teams.
The new bowling teams will be coached by Michael Flanagan, who is beginning his second year with the athletic staff. Michael also coaches the university’s competitive cheer and dance teams.
The inaugural golf team will be coached by Ryan Huntze, a Texarkana native who joins the Eagles staff after a successful coaching career at Texas High School in Texarkana.
The cross country, indoor / outdoor track and field teams will be coached by David Lawrence, Jr. Coach Lawrence is in his first year at A&M-Texarkana and comes from Sonoma State University in California. He is also a region coordinator for USA Track and Field.
Other coaches new to the Eagles athletic department include men’s and women’s tennis coach Brian Nelson, whose Southeast Oklahoma State University teams have won three out of the last 5 conference championships in the Great American Conference.
Deacon Jones has been chosen to lead the Eagles women’s basketball team, having coached at the University of Louisiana Lafayette for the past seven years.
Chase Brewster was named the head baseball coach at A&M-Texarkana after a successful 2025 season as the interim head coach where his team won 35 games, one shy of the team record for wins in a season. Darion Brown has been named head men’s basketball coach following a season as the interim coach in which his team won 20 games.
Rounding out the Eagles coaching staff are returning coaches
- Rick Allen: Esports (second season)
- Don Koontz: Men’s and Women’s Soccer (tenth season)
- Tony McKnight: Softball (second season)
- Madeleine Halford: Volleyball/Beach Volleyball (fourth season)
Additional members of the athletic staff include Director of Athletics Ryan Wall, Assistant Athletic Director Fachaitte Kinslow, and Athletic Trainer Erica Erwin. Reed Johnson has been hired as the department’s new Associate Athletic Director of Operations and Facilities and will join the staff in late July. Camry Dillie is the University’s Assistant Director of Sports Information. For additional information about the athletic department contact Camry Dillie at cdillie@tamut.edu.