By Patrick Hayes

Kalamazoo College has hired a coach to replace Rob Passage, who resigned last month. The school announced on Aug. 15 that Eric Dougal, who has been an assistant the past six seasons at two different Division III colleges, will take over. From the news release:

Dougal spent the last six seasons as an assistant coach at two highly competitive NCAA Division III programs, Manchester College (2006-11) and UW-Platteville (2011-12).

“I am extremely excited to be the head basketball coach at Kalamazoo College,” Dougal said. “I want to thank the search committee and the leadership at Kalamazoo College for this opportunity. Throughout the interview process it was evident that Kalamazoo College is an amazing institution and a perfect fit for me and my family. I am honored to be working at a school with an incredible academic and experiential reputation, and will strive to bring the same level of success and excellence to the men’s basketball program.”

As recruiting coordinator at Manchester, Dougal helped bring in classes that took the program to a national level as the Spartans finished the 2011-12 season ranked No. 18 in the country with a 22-7 record. Manchester was ranked No. 3 in the Midwest Region and returned to the NCAA III Tournament for the first time since 1999. In addition to his recruiting and on court responsibilities, Dougal managed the scouting reports and film breakdown as well as all aspects of the Junior Spartans Basketball Camp. He also taught activity classes, coordinated fall sports game day operations, and served as strength and conditioning coach.

The team struggled some last year, but returns several players, many of whom participated together in this summer’s Moneyball Pro-Am in Lansing to gain some experience and cohesion together. Two of the players I interviewed there mentioned that it will be nice for them to have a coach who isn’t also an assistant A.D., as Passage was. Hopefully, Dougal won’t be spread as thin and will be able to focus solely on the basketball program.