Chris Fear Head Men's Basketball Coach Head men’s basketball coach Chris Fear knows how to achieve success. As a high school player at Clay Central – Everly, Fear was named an Iowa all-state performer. He went on to an excellent collegiate playing career at the University of Sioux Falls. Before coming to Dana, Fear served as the top assistant coach at Calvin College, which won the 2000 NCAA Division III National Championship. Now in his 8th year as head coach of the Vikings, Fear wants complete success for the student athletes in his charge. He emphasizes that student athletes should work to become the best players they can be on the court and the best scholars they can be in the classroom. The Vikings have had some of their most successful moments in school history during Fear’s tenure and have turned out 11 NAIA Academic All-Americans as well. The Vikings have had a team GPA of over a 3.0 every semester that Fear has been at Dana.

“ Dana College is an outstanding place to work and Blair is a wonderful community. I’m blessed to be here and work with the fine people at Dana. We have been able to build this program to a level of respectability that has not been enjoyed before. The GPAC is the best NAIA conference in America and we always play one of the most competitive schedules in the conference. I look forward to continuing to take this basketball program to new heights.”

Fear is married to Kari who is social worker for Bethany Christian Services in Council Bluffs, IA. They have 3 daughters: Alix, Emma and Madison.

“ I’m here full time,” Fear said. “I have a very good relationship with the players. I demand that they give their best every time they step on the floor. I also want them to feel they can come to me if they have a problem away from basketball.”

Fear encourages his players to become involved in Dana’s active campus. It’s the type of college experience that has become rare.

“ We do still have a campus life at Dana,” he said. “They get unlimited benefits from the personal contact with professors and the opportunities they have to participate in activities like Student Senate and other organizations.”

Phone: 402-426-7294
E-mail: cfear@dana.edu

J. R. Oliphant Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach

Assistant men’s basketball coach J. R. Oliphant is in his third season at Dana College. Coach Oliphant graduated from high school in Lenox, Iowa and then earned his BS in mathematics education from Peru State College.
Coach Oliphant brought 13 years of high school coaching experience with him to Dana. He coached football and basketball in Lubbock, Texas for 2 years before moving back to Iowa to teach and coach at Elk Horn-Kimballton High School. After serving as an assistant coach for 6 years at EHK, Oliphant moved to Missouri Valley where he was the head basketball coach for 5 years. Coach Oliphant still teaches math at MVHS.

Coach Oliphant is happy to be a Viking, commenting, “ I enjoy working with the college athletes and the coaching staff at Dana. I have built and continue to build relationships that will last a long time. We truly are a family at Dana College.”

Luke Donahue

Luke Donahue enters his 2nd season as a student-assistant for the Vikings. Donahue played football for 1 season and basketball for 2 seasons before knee injuries forced him to give up playing. Luke works primarily with the Varsity basketball team. Donahue is a senior Sports Management major. Coach Fear says, “Luke has been a tremendous asset to our program. He is a great listener and very knowledgeable about the game. Our staff is fortunate to have him.”

Scott Leisy

Scott Leisy begins his 1st season as a student-assistant for the Vikings. Leisy has been a member of the Dana College basketball program the previous 3 seasons. Scott works primarily with the Junior Varsity basketball team. Leisy is a Physical Education major. Coach Fear comments, “I am very pleased that Scott is continuing his career as a part of our coaching staff. He works very hard and extremely responsible. This will be a good start for him and his coaching career.”