Oklahoma Panhandle State University Athletics announced veteran collegiate coach Mark Laird as the Aggies' Head Men's Basketball Coach in the summer of 2019. Laird brought a total of 14 years of college coaching expertise to Panhandle State, the most recent of which was the two previous seasons at fellow Sooner Athletic Conference-member Southwestern Christian University.
Laird will be entering his 4th season. Last season 2021-2022 Laird led his team to two top 25 ranked wins over #21 Mid-America Christian University and #16 Southwestern Assemblies of God. Laird finished with a record of 12-16, nine of them in conference wins. Aggies also had a road win over Texas Wesleyan this year, They were receiving top 25 votes at the time.
The 2020-2021 season was the shortened season with COVID-19, Laird led his team to 5-7 and fell short to Southwestern Assemblies of God 78-84. Freshman Jalen Thomas appeared in 11 games during the shortened season and earned himself 3rd team All-SAC, averaging a team-high 21.4 points per game and tied for team-high 58 rebounds. In 20-21, the Aggies were picked to finish last in the pre-season SAC Coaches Poll and finished 4-6 ( Finished in 8th place). Aggies went 5-6 in the regular season and then lost to SAGU in the 1st round of the SAC tourney to end at 5-7.
In his first season at the OPSU helm in 2019-20, the Aggies went 5-24 within a depleted roster. junior guard DK Sumo was selected all-SAC honorable mention after ranking among the national leaders in steals.
Laird has coached at every four-year collegiate affiliation - NAIA, NCAA I, II and III – and spent three years at the high school level, as well, during his career. Additionally, he has experience in athletic administrative capacities in academic mentoring, gameday management, camps, compliance and recruiting. He has also worked as a Campus Director (student life office) and an adjunct faculty member.
As Associate Head Coach at SCU, Laird helped the Eagles to a composite 34-32 record, including a 20-15 mark in 2017-18 (the second-best record in school history). Even more impressive was the team's 3.43 team grade point average in 2017-18. During that two-season span, four team members earned all-SAC honors. SCU was also a SAC tournament participant in 2017-18 and the top seed at the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) national tournament. The Eagles had nine NCAA Academic All-Americans, as well.
Prior to his time at SCU, Laird was the Associate Head Coach at his alma mater, University of Valley Forge (2015-17) and an assistant coach at Texas A&M International University (2011-15). During his seasons with TAMIU, the Dustdevils had three 20-win seasons, won one Heartland Conference regular season title and one conference tournament crown, resulting in an NCAA II regional tournament appearance. Responsible for academic monitoring, TAMIU teams had a 3.0 or better team GPA during each of his four seasons.
Laird was the head coach at Bethany University (Calif.) in 2010-11 after serving as the school's assistant coach the previous season. His other stops included as the Director of Basketball Operations at NCAA I Sacramento State University (2007-08), assistant coach at Hawai'i Pacific University (2005-07) and assistant coach for Shepherd University (2004-05).
Laird earned his bachelor's degree (Bible) from UVF in 2000 and his master's in communication from HPU in 2008. Laird's own playing career included four seasons at Valley Forge, where he was a two-year starter and team captain.
Laird resides in Goodwell.
