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Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College (NEO) Lady Norse Basketball Head Coach Jim Rowland was recently inducted into the Pawhuska High School Hall of Fame. Rowland currently holds the record as the all-time winningest women’s basketball coach in NEO history.
Photo from left: Tonya, Cason, Jim, Tori, and Haiden. Mason pictured in front.
Rowland is a 1986 graduate of Pawhuska High School, where he lettered four years in football, basketball, baseball, and track. He was also an All-state honorable mention in football. He then received a football scholarship to Northwestern Oklahoma State University, but a life threatening injury forced him to retire from the game. Rowland earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Physical Education and Recreation from the University of Central Oklahoma in 1992.
“Being inducted in to the Pawhuska Hall of Fame was such an honor,” said Rowland. “Pawhuska is my home, it’s where I met my wife Tonya, and so to be honored in my home town is extremely humbling and overwhelming. I was especially grateful that I share this with my two uncles, who were also inducted in to the Pawhuska Hall of Fame. It was a very special night for me and my family.”
Rowland, also the director of housing at NEO, took over the head coaching position in 2005. Under his leadership, the Lady Norse have claimed five consecutive conference titles, five Regional titles, and have had five National Tournament appearances. Coach Rowland has been named Conference Coach of the Year four times and District B Regional Coach of the Year five times.
Jim is married to his Pawhuska High School sweetheart, Tonya Cass Rowland. The couple has two daughters, Haiden, Tori, one son, Mason, and one grandson Cason. For more information on Lady Norse Basketball or Coach Rowland, contact Lisa Severe at lsevere@neo.edu.
