Brian Newhall, the winningest coach in school history, returns for his 20th season with 284 career victories and a 100% team graduation rate. During his tenure, the Tigers have earned regional and national rankings, produced the only perfect 14-0 record in SCIAC history and triumphed in two NCAA playoff games to reach the NCAA III Elite 8.

Newhall, a 1983 Occidental graduate, endorses the scholar-athlete experience.  "I was raised on equal parts Socrates and basketball. My parents were fans of the sound mind-sound body philosophy." True to the tradition, Newhall played point guard for four seasons, garnering a degree in American Studies. "It was a formative experience for me. Some of my lifelong friends were team mates." Team MVP twice and SCIAC Player of the Year, Newhall captained the Tigers to a SCIAC championship his senior year. "Varsity athletes get double-teamed," he laughs. "The coaches and professors both challenge you. The Occidental athlete gets a complete education---on the court, in the residence halls and in the classroom."

As a player-coach in Europe, Newhall added a global outlook to his winning strategy. After two successful seasons in southern France, he returned to Occidental as an assistant coach for Bill Westphal. "Inclination and opportunity converged. It was an ideal scenario---an NBA coach to learn from and the junior-varsity team to coach." Newhall maintains strong international ties, placing numerous players on European Basketball Club Teams.

Continuity and community are benchmarks of Newhall's success. Alumni support is at an all time high. "Staying in touch with my own players and meeting those of earlier generations is one of the rewards of my career." Newhall has reached out to scholar-athletes across six decades of Tiger Basketball. "Their collective achievements are the best recommendation for Occidental." Newhall credits Oxy legend, Coach Grant Dunlap, with "inspiration and guidance" in energizing the alumni network. "It embodies the heart and history of our program." Newhall has expanded Oxy's Hall of Fame to include 29 honorees, dating back to 1935. And the flourishing Alumni Basketball Association Sunday Night League keeps team-mates connected and involved with the current program. "Their best shots, now, are e-mails to critique my coaching." What's the coach's lament? "If they care when you win, they care when you lose!"

Newhall, who has an MA in Education, also developed and directs Occidental's acclaimed Youth Basketball Camps. In addition, Newhall lends his coaching talent to the YMCA and AYSO youth sports programs and is an active volunteer with the South Pasadena School District.

Newhall and his wife, Amy, Oxy alum and Scripps College psychology professor, have an eleven-year old daughter, Rachel, and five year old twins, Emily and David.

Brad Hall returns to the Tiger coaching staff for his 7th season after 20 years as the head coach at Pasadena Polytechnic High School.  Brad led Pasadena Poly to eight league championships, seven CIF final fours, five CIF finals and two CIF titles.  This includes six different teams that attained a #1 ranking in the state rankings and seven teams that won twenty games.  Brad received Coach of the Year Awards from Pasadena Star News, Southern California Coaches Association, Amateur Athletic Foundation of Los Angeles and selected California State Coach of the Year by Cal-Hi Sport Magazine.  Brad has coached thirty All-CIF players as well as numerous college players at Poly including Oxy standout David Newhall.  Most recently Brad spent a sabbatical year as an assistant coach at Los Angeles City College helping LACC to a 34-3 record culminating in nine players signing DI scholarships.  Brad is a graduate of UC Berkeley.  Brad is married to Kim Weber '96 and recently became the proud father of a baby boy.

Jim Hennacy returns to Oxy for his 7th season bringing along with him twenty-five years of previous high school, community college, university and professional coaching experience.  Most recently Jim spent four years as the top assistant at local powerhouse Los Angeles City College helping lead them to four league championships, three final 8 appearances and one state championship.  Jim is no stranger to SCIAC basketball.  Prior to coaching at LACC Jim spent six years as the top assistant at the University of La Verne.  During his tenure at La Verne Jim was instrumental in helping turn the program around and guiding the Leopards to three SCIAC championships and advancing to the NCAA DIII Sweet Sixteen in 1993.  As the Head Coach, Jim led Blair High School to two CIF Finals and won numerous league championships and coach of the year awards.  Jim received his BA from UCLA and his Masters Degree from Point Loma.  Jim is married and resides in Pasadena.

John Tingley joined the Occidental Staff a year ago after serving four years with the US Army, including two tours of duty in Iraq with the 82nd Airborne where he earned the Army Commendation medal and the Purple Heart. John was a starting point guard and also played baseball at Aragon High School in San Mateo, CA. He also played basketball at Gavilan College in Gilroy, CA, under Jim Mastin (former head coach at Whitman College, WA). John is now in his second year as full time Supervisor of the Stockroom with the Facilities Department at Occidental College. He and his wife, Jamee, have two sons, James (3) and Jayden (10 mos) and currently reside in Pasadena. John will assist Reiner Kolodinski, and his primary responsibilities will center around individual development with Oxy Junior Varsity guards and forwards.

Reiner Kolodinski '81 returns for his 7th season as Oxy assistant coach. An assistant coach at Duarte High School for the past five years, Reiner brings more than 15 years of high school, college and professional coaching experience to the Tiger Basketball program. Reiner is an outstanding coach and has a passion for teaching the game and developing players.

Regarded as one of the finest point guards in Oxy history, Reiner transferred to Occidental after playing two years at El Camino College. He led the Tigers to the 1980 SCIAC Championship and a berth in the NCAA Division III Tournament, setting school records in free throw percentage (92.9%) and season assists (154). Reiner was a two-time All-SCIAC point guard and was named to the NCAA Division III All-District team in 1980. He went on to play professionally for ASC46 Goettingen in the German Bundeslinga, winning the German Cup in 1983.

Reiner is a full-time teacher and chair of the history department at Duarte High School, where he was named "Teacher of the Year" in 2003. Reiner earned his teaching credential and master's degree from Occidental in 2001. Married for 23 years, he and his wife Janice live in Eagle Rock and have three children: Jonathan, 22; Natalie, 18; and Andrew, 18. Reiner enjoys traveling, modern jazz, reading, gardening and old movies.