Hall of Fame
Ron Marvel received a degree in physical education from Ozarks in 1965 and then went on to become an ultra-successful basketball coach on several different levels in Arkansas. Marvel had an incredible run as head coach at University of Central Arkansas from 1980-2004, retiring as the winningest college women’s basketball coach in Arkansas history with a 489-207 (.703) record. In his 24 years, UCA never had a losing season and averaged more than 20 wins per season. Ten times during their time in the AIC, the Sugar Bears made the postseason and then, after moving to NCAA Division II, made four NCAA Tournament appearances. He coached countless All-Conference players during his tenure. On the junior high and high school levels at stops in Magazine, Cedarville and Fountain Lake, he compiled an impressive 951-430 record. His coaching honors include college district Coach of the Year four times, Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference Coach of the Year twice, high school district Coach of the Year 11 times and four appearances in the Arkansas High School All-Star Game. Though he didn't compete in sports at Ozarks, he transformed a strong emphasis on fundamentals and a burning desire to win into a successful formula that has added up to more than 1,300 victories and a winning percentage of better than 70 percent in 33 years of coaching. He was inducted into the UCA Sports Hall of Fame in 2003.
