ENMU names Prock women's basketball coach

Joshua Prock isn't intimidated by trying to build a women's basketball program at Eastern New Mexico University.

He's already had success in what he called a similar situation at Division III Howard Payne University in Brownwood, Texas.

"(Eastern is) a similar situation to where I'm at right now," said Prock, hired as the Zias' coach on Thursday. "I think if you work hard, positive things can happen. I'm more a glass-is-half-full guy than the glass-is half-empty-guy."

Prock, 35, a 1996 Clovis High graduate, was one of eight candidates interviewed by phone for the job, two of whom were brought on campus this week, athletic director Jeff Geiser said.

"He's going to be a wonderful asset to the program," Geiser said. "I feel really good about this hire."

A 2001 graduate of the University of Oklahoma, Prock spent four seasons on the Sooners' men's basketball staff under Kelvin Sampson, serving as the team's video coordinator during their 2001-02 Final Four run and as director of basketball operations in 2004-05. He spent one season as an assistant at Kentucky Wesleyan University and two years as a boys assistant coach at Ryan High School in Denton, Texas, before going to Howard Payne in 2008.

Coming in on the heels of a 33-0 season and Division III national championship, he led the Lady Jackets to a 108-31 record over his five seasons, with American Southwest Conference championships in 2008-09 and 2010-11. HPU finished 21-6 in 2012-13.

At ENMU, he inherits a program from Lindsey Wilson which went 7-22 (6-14 Lone Star Conference) in 2012-13, but graduates only two seniors from a roster consisting of mostly freshmen and sophomores.

Prock, who has already visited with all potential returning squad members, said he has no illusions about what's ahead.

"It's going to be a process (to build success)," he said. "I'm going to have to get a feel for all the girls. It's going to be a process, for sure."

Prock and wife Angie have three children, twins Nolan and Jenna, age 4, and Colton, born three weeks ago.

ENMU is also looking to fill its softball position after Lauren Sigwing's resignation last month. Geiser said three candidates are scheduled to be on-campus for interviews — one Saturday, one Monday and one Tuesday — and he hopes to have a new coach on board by perhaps the middle of next week.