Head Coach CHAD TAPP

Chad Tapp continues his third year at the helm of the University of Arkansas at Monticello men's basketball program for the 2023-24 season after being announced as the head coach on August 20, 2021. 

Tapp joins UAM after spending the past eight years at the helm of the Lyon College men's basketball program. During his time as the head coach of the Scots, he earned American Midwest Conference Coach of the Year twice, set the program record for conference wins, posted the highest conference winning percentage, and led the Scots to their first ever AMC championship and first conference championship of any kind since the 1982-83 season.

The 2020-21 season proved to be a banner year for the Scots as they would capture their first American Midwest Conference regular season title by defeating Central Baptist College 91-78 on February 21. The Scots would do it, as usual, with defense, finishing the year number 1 in the nation in points per game allowed, 7^th in points per possession, and top 25 in both field goal percentage defense and 3-point field goal percentage defense. For their efforts, Tapp was named AMC Coach of the year. The final regular season poll would include the Scots for a second straight season. Three players would earn honors with Cole Anderson being named First Team All-Conference, Ray Price Second Team, and Dominique Loyd being named Third Team as well as All-Defensive Team. Eleven members of the team would be selected Academic All-Conference as well.

In the 2019-2020 season, the Scots finished the year with 18 wins. The 18 wins marks the most victories in a regular season since 1983-84. The Scots received votes in the NAIA Top 25 Coaches' Poll two times throughout the season, which marked the first time the Scots received votes since the 2014-15 season. Tapp earned his 100th-career win at Lyon when the Scots upset then-No. 18 Central Baptist College, 65-61, on Jan. 4 at home. The Scots would once again finish fifth in the nation in points per game allowed and top 25 in 3-point field goal percentage defense. Three players earned All-AMC accolades, while seven players were named to the AMC Academic All-Conference team. Tapp also led the Scots to their fourth consecutive AMC Tournament appearance. 

In the 2018-19 season, the Scots posted the best regular-season record since the 1984-85 season. Lyon defeated two teams that qualified for the NAIA National Tournament. On Nov. 7, 2019, the Scots took down Talladega College for a season-opening 70-69 overtime victory. Later in the season, Lyon upset No. 18 Central Baptist College by holding the Mustangs 34 points below their season average, 55-46. The Scots would finish second in the nation in points per game allowed and top 25 in 3-point field goal percentage defense. This was the Scots’ third consecutive AMC Tournament appearance.

In the 2017-18 season, Tapp led the Scots to wins over two top 25 opponents during the season. The Scots defeated No. 17 Park, 55-52, at home on Dec. 2, 2017, before knocking No. 5 nationally ranked Columbia College out of the AMC Tournament with a 65-61 overtime-win on Feb. 28, 2018. The Scots would finish the season third in the nation in points per game allowed.

The 2016-17 season consisted of two wins over nationally ranked teams – No. 24 Freed-Hardeman University, 55-48, and No. 23 William Woods University, 58-51. The Scots wrapped up the season with a 16-15 record and clinched a berth in the AMC Tournament. The Scots would finish the season fourth in the nation in points per game allowed and top 25 in field goal percentage offense, field goal percentage defense, and 3-point field goal percentage defense.

In the 2015-16 season, The Scots picked up a key road victory over No. 20 Philander Smith College on Nov. 24, 2015. Later that season, Lyon knocked off one of the top teams in the AMC, Missouri Baptist University by a score of 67-53. The Scots would finish third in the nation in 3-point field goal percentage offense and eighth in the nation in points per game allowed.

For the 2014-15 season, the Scots finished 17-14 overall including a home win against then No. 7 Columbia (Mo.) on Dec. 7, 2014. Lyon also entered the national polls receiving votes in January 2015. The 17 wins would be tied for the most in program since 1985. The Scots would lead the nation in 3-point field goal percentage for a second straight season, finish second in points per game allowed, and third in free-throw percentage.

Lyon finished the 2013-14 season with a 16-15 season record, after beginning the year 2-9. The season included a 55-54 win over NCAA Division I Grambling State University on the road. Stingy defense and efficient offense was the key to the turn around. The Scots led the country in 3-point field goal percentage, second in scoring defense, ninth in free-throw percentage, 13^th in field goal percentage offense, and 21^st in field goal percentage defense. The Scots also won more conference games (15) than any team in the program's history, finishing 15-5, while advancing to the conference postseason tournament. The winning season was the first in seven years and only the sixth in the previous 23 seasons. Tapp was also named the AMC Co-Coach of the Year.

Prior to his time at Lyon College, Tapp spent three seasons as the head coach at Indiana University South Bend. He took over the Titans’ program that had posted an 8-23 record in 2009-10. IUSB recorded the school’s first back-to-back winning seasons in the school’s history and first 20-win season. The Titans won the most CCAC games as a member of the CCAC in year three (17). The 2012-13 season was also the highest finish by IUSB in the conference, as they placed third in the 13-team race. The Titans finished behind eventual National Champion Cardinal Stritch and Sweet 16 qualifier Saint Xavier.

Tapp began his coaching career at his alma-mater Taylor University, working under the direction of NAIA Hall of Fame coach Paul Patterson, who won over 700 collegiate games. A six-year assistant coach for the Trojans, Tapp recruited six Top 40 athletes from the state of Indiana, 15 all-state selections from five different states and successfully brought in three NAIA All-Americans. During tenure, he helped Taylor to three conference championships, three trips to the NAIA National Tournament, including the 2006 team that advanced to the Sweet 16 round.

Tapp is a 2005 graduate of Taylor University in Upland, Ind., where he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology. He went on to obtain his Master's degree in Sports Management at California University at Pennsylvania in 2008.

Tapp started his career as a freshman at Tennessee Wesleyan College in Athens, Tenn., before moving on and playing for one year at Shawnee Community College in Ullin, Ill. While there, he was nominated to All-Region 24 and was chosen to play in the North-South All-Star game. He finished his collegiate playing career at Taylor, helping the team to a 26-8 record and the Mid-Central Collegiate Conference Tournament championship and a spot in the NAIA National Tournament.

Chad has two daughters, Harper and Grace.

Assistant Coach AIDAN DAWSON