Rocky Mountain College Clara Klindt Athletic Hall of Fame
Mark Adams is a nationally respected college basketball commentator in his 20th season broadcasting college basketball games. Considered by many to be the “Voice of the Mid-Majors,” Adams appears regularly on ESPN.
In 1982, Adams became, at age 25, the youngest head men’s basketball coach in the country when he took over as the head coach at Rocky Mountain College.
Taking control of a downtrodden program, Adams guided the Battlin’ Bears (23-9) to the 1985 NAIA District 12 championship, and a NAIA national tournament berth. It was the first trip to Kansas City for the Battlin’ Bears since Herb Klindt’s 1951 squad. Rocky had suffered through 17 consecutive losing seasons prior to Adams’ arrival.
Adams served as a college basketball coach for 17 years, 10 of which was at the NCAA Division I level. Known as a program re-builder, he took over three different collegiate basketball programs that were a combined 28-54 (.341) in the season prior to his arrival. In his final season at those three schools, he led the programs to a combined record of 59-32 (.648). His teams won two championships (1985, 1989) earning him Coach of the Year honors.
Along with his broadcasting career, Adams has become a nationally known motivational speaker. He recently spoke in March to student-athletes participating in the 2019 NAIA Women’s Basketball National Championship in Billings, Mont.
