Northwestern State assistant Coach Dwain Roard says if he had a dime for every mile he traveled last season he could retire. That isn't going to happen, so Roark is back for his second year as assistant coach under Wayne Yates.
Roark was in charge of the recruiting last season and spent many a day and night on the road. Yates and Roark are confident that travel will pay off in the Demon players Roark was able to recruit.
Roark came to Northwestern after being the head coach at Arkansas College for two years. While at Arkansas College, Roark guided the team to a 23-8 record in 1979-80, for first time the school had won 20 games in 13 years. Arkansas College advanced to the NAIA national playoffs in each of Roark's two years as the head coach.
The success at Arkansas College was nothing new to Roark. After graduating from Ouachita Baptist in 1970 Roark returned to his hometown of Jena and guided the Giants to a 17-9 record for his first year and to a 29-5 mark the following season.
Roark then moved to Sylvan Hills High in North Little Rock. In two years there Roark's' teams were 27-9 and 28-6 and made two appearances in the stat tournament. His first college position was at Whitworth College in Mississippi. After a 20-10 first season his second team went 27-6, helping Roark win honors as the Southwest Region "Coach of the Year."
Roark first coached in the Arkansas Conference the following year at John Brown University. Taking over a team that had eight straight losing seasons. Roark took the team to a 20-6 record his first year.
Roark's success as a coach only followed his highly successful playing career. He was a four sport letterman at Jena and was captain of the basketball and baseball teams as a junior and as a senior. A two-time all-state selection in basketball, he led his district in scoring as a senior and also earned all-state honors in baseball.
Roark attended Mid-City Junior College in New Orleans and led the Deep South Athletic Conference in scoring. He was named a junior college All-American before moving on to Ouachita Baptist.
While at Ouachita Roark was a member of the Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference championship team that also won the NAIA District 17 title. As a senior Roark led the nation in free throw percentage while earning all-AIC honors.
Roark received his bachelor's degree in physical education and social studies from Ouachita Baptist in 1970 and his master's degree in physical education and sociology from the same school in 1972.
Along with serving as assistant coach Roark is in charge of the Northwestern recruiting and also serves as the Demon golf coach. He is married to the former Terrie Laman of Cave City, Ark.
