Southern Arkansas University President Dr. David Rankin has appointed Steve Browning as interim director of athletics.
The appointment comes four months after SAU Director of Athletics Jay Adcox passed away after battling cancer. Rankin has been serving as interim director of athletics.
“Steve Browning has been a very successful coach and a dedicated Mulerider,” Rankin said. “We are very pleased that he has accepted this important responsibility.”
Browning is a familiar face at SAU. He was named head coach of the Mulerider baseball program in June 2010 after 10 seasons as an assistant coach. He has been part of SAU baseball since 1998, serving five years as a student and graduate assistant coach and two years as a player.
Browning’s first year as head coach proved to be a successful one as he led the team to their third Gulf South Conference championship in six years, their 11th consecutive 30-plus win season and 20th in the past 21 years, sixth overall NCAA regional appearance, and their fourth straight year to reach the top 10 in the national polls where the Muleriders were ranked as high as sixth and finished the season ranked 16th.
“More than anything I’m just honored,” Browning said of the appointment. “All of the coaches work together, and I’m looking forward to working with them in this position and being able to learn more about them and their programs. I love this University, and I want to do anything I can do to help it succeed.”
Browning will continue to serve as head baseball coach while filling the interim athletic director role.
Browning received his B.S.E. in health, kinesiology and recreation from SAU in 2001, and holds three M.Ed. degrees from the university in kinesiology (2002), education administration and supervision (2005) and special education (2007).
A graduate of Sheridan High School, Browning is married to the former Brandy Nicholson of Strong, and they have two sons, Cade and Mason.
