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David Riggins

David Riggins is beginning his 26^th year at Mars Hill College. He assumed the athletic director’s duties on September 1, 1998, after serving as the assistant athletic director at Mars Hill since 1993.

Riggins is the winningest head men’s basketball coach in school history. He accumulated 431 victories as a head high school and collegiate coach. His high school teams collected eight conference championships and three State Championships while making nine playoff appearances. He guided his Mars Hill teams to three post-season appearances including the 1994 SAC Championship title. He was named SAC Coach of the Year in 1994.

Coach Riggins is active in community life. He is a member of Woodland Hills Baptist Church and is a member of the Rotary Club of Weaverville. Riggins has been actively involved in NCAA committee work having served as a member of the NCAA Championships Committee, the Legislative Committee and the NCAA Playing Rules Committee. He served two years as vice chair of the NCAA Division II Management Council and also served on the Budget and Finance Committee. He also served on the Division II game environments committee. That group initiated its work in July of 2007 with a summit held in Washington D.C. which Riggins chaired.

During his tenure at Mars Hill College, he coached 16 All-Conference players, one All-American, two-All-Region players, two SAC Freshman of the Year, one SAC Player of the Year, one SAC Male Athlete of the Year and 11 of his players entered the school’s 1,000-point club. Riggins has the distinction of having three former players who have been inducted into the SAC Hall of Fame.

Since assuming the role as Director of Athletics, the Mars Hill Athletic Complex has seen a face lift. Meares Stadium saw the installation of synthetic turf and the W. Scott Merrill Press Box along with refurbished seating for the home grandstand and improved visitor seating. Upon completion, the complex assumed the name as the Ammons Family Athletic Center and Meares Stadium. It now serves as the home for the football, lacrosse and men’s and women’s soccer teams. In addition, a new softball facility was completed on Ponder Field along with the construction of two football practice fields. Belk Field saw the addition of a new practice facility which houses men’s and women’s soccer and lacrosse. That facility was upgraded with a new irrigation system and installation of natural turf. As the Lions move into the 2011-12 season more improvements are on the drawing board. The Hart Tennis Center will see a refurbishing of its courts, a new 2,100 square foot athletic weight room will come to fruition and plans are moving ahead for the construction of a new Henderson Baseball facility.

Coach Riggins played basketball in college at Francis Marion University before receiving both his bachelors degree (1974) and master’s degree (1980) from the University of South Carolina.

Coach Riggins and his wife Rita reside in Weaverville. They have two sons, Chase (28) and Kyle (24).

Che Gothard

Che is an assistant athletic trainer department at Mars Hill College.  Previously Che was a graduate assistant for Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, Louisiana, where she obtained her Masters of Education in Higher Education Administration.  Before her time in Cajun country, she obtained her Bachelor’s of Science in Athletic Training from the University of Central Arkansas.  Che is originally from Perryville, Arkansas but currently resides in Mars Hill.

Matt Vader

Matt Vader is in his first year as the Assistant SID at Mars Hill. A graduate of Western Michigan University, Matt earned a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism. While attending WMU, Matt worked as an athletic media relations staff assistant. Matt is a native of Kalamazoo, Mich. and resides in Mars Hill.

Josiah Hagemann

Josiah is beginning his first year as part of the athletic training department at Mars Hill College. Josiah came to Mars Hill College from the University of North Carolina Asheville where he served as an assistant athletic trainer. Josiah obtained his bachelor’s degree in athletic training from the University of Minnesota – Duluth and completed his master’s degree in sports administration at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. Josiah is a native of Howard Lake, MN.

Chelsea Daugherty

Chelsea is the newest member of the athletic training department.  She was previously the head athletic trainer at Valley High School in Alabama while completing her Master's of Education in Health Promotions at Auburn University.  Chelsea earned her Bachelor's Degree in Athletic Training from Mars Hill College.  She also holds her CSCS credentials from the National Strength and Conditioning Association.

Pam Weaver

Pamela is in her fifth year as the Administrative Assistant to the Director of Athletics. She moved to Weaverville after spending 25 years in Raleigh, N.C. Pamela and her husband Todd have two children Steveand Katie. A native of Pittsburgh, Pa., Pamela graduated from Thiel College in Greenville, Pa.

Danielle Jones

Danielle is in her fourth year as an assistant athletic trainer at Mars Hill College. Danielle previously served as a staff certified athletic trainer for Tennessee Wesleyan College. Danielle completed her bachelors degree from Mars Hill College and obtained her master’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. A native of Greensboro, NC, Danielle is single and resides in Weaverville.

Kelly Ottie

Kelly is in her seventh year as Clinical Education Coordinator and Assistant Athletic Trainer for Mars Hill College. Kelly came to Mars Hill from Catawba College where she served as a staff certified athletic trainer. She graduated from Gardner-Webb University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Athletic Training in 2002 and completed her Master of Arts degree in Sports Science and Pedagogy in 2004 also from Gardner-Webb University. Kelly is single and resides in Mars Hill.

Marty Gilbert

Marty is beginning his seventh year as the institution’s FAR. Marty graduated from Swain County High School in 1995 before entering MHC where he earned a B.S. in Mathematics and Computer Science in 1999. Gilbert then went on to Duke University where he received a M.S. in Computer Science in 2002. He returned to MHC in the fall of 2002 as an instructor in the Computer Science Department. Gilbert and his wife Sarai reside in Mars Hill and attend Woodland Hills Baptist Church.

Allen Shelley

Allen Shelley is in his 18th year as the Head Athletic Trainer for Mars Hill. Allen came to the Lions from Gardner-Webb University where he was a graduate assistant. He graduated from Gardner-Webb with a bachelor of science degree in Elementary Education in 1992 and completed his master’s degree in Physical Education in August of 1995 also from Gardner-Webb University. Allen is married to the former Jennifer Mitchell and they reside in Mars Hill with their daughter Lilly .

Rick Baker

Rick is in his 18th year at MHC. He is responsible for all the sports information needs for the Lions' 21 intercollegiate sports. He also serves as the Director of Compliance and assists with all the daily operations of the athletic department. Prior to moving into a administrative role in 2003, Baker coached baseball at MHC for 10 years serving as both an assistant and as the head coach. In 1992 he graduated with a bachelors degree in Physical Education, and received his master’s degree in Exercise Science in 1994, both from East Tennessee State University. While at East Tennessee State he was a four-year letter winner of the Varsity Baseball Team. He was also team captain his senior year. Baker and his wife Angel have two children, a son Jordan age 12, and a daughter Alexis age 10. The family resides in Mars Hill.

Mark Desin

  Thursday, May 23

Track and Field (W) NCAA Division II National Championships (at Pueblo, Colo.)
Track and Field (M) NCAA Division II National Championship (at Pueblo, Colo.)

Home events are in bold.