Southeast Arkansas College has announced the finalists for the inaugural head coaching positions for men’s baseball and women’s softball starting NJCAA Athletics competition in the fall of 2023. After an extensive search process, the college has identified five highly qualified candidates for the two coaching positions.
SEARK will host come-and-go receptions for each candidate, providing the community a chance to meet with each candidate. The receptions will be held in the Welcome Center on the Main Campus located at 1900 Hazel Street.
The reception dates and times are as follows:
Monday, April 10 from 2:00 to 2:45 pm for Softball Candidate Cecelia Kolesar
Tuesday, April 11 from 10:00 to 10:45 am for Softball Candidate Belinda Hendrix
Tuesday, April 11 from 2:00 to 2:45 pm for Baseball Candidate Tucker Hughes
Wednesday, April 12 from 10:00 to 10:45 am for Softball Candidate Beth Jackson
Wednesday, April 12 from 4:00 to 4:45 pm for Baseball Candidate Steven Adams Jr.
SEARK College is thrilled to launch National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) men’s baseball and women’s softball programs this year. The college is committed to providing exceptional athletic opportunities to its students and is confident that the inaugural coaches will help build competitive and successful programs.
“The addition of NJCAA baseball and softball programs at SEARK College is an exciting development for our institution and community,” said Dr. Steven Bloomberg, President of SEARK College. “We are thrilled to welcome these talented and experienced finalists to our campus, and we look forward to the positive impact they will have on our student-athletes and our college as a whole.”
SEARK College encourages everyone to attend the come-and-go receptions to meet each of the coaching candidates and learn more about their vision for the programs.
For more information, please contact the SEARK College athletic department at (870) 543-5912 or visit the athletics website at www.searksharks.com.
Head Coaching Finalist Bios
Women’s Softball Candidates:
Cecilia Kolesar is an Assistant Director of Athletic Academics and Assistant Softball Coach at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. She has substantial knowledge in college admissions applications, scholarship applications, and recruitment. Kolesar has exceptional organizational skills and is excellent at strategic planning to meet goals. She is an effective communicator with excellent problem-solving skills, able to assess a situation professionally, address major issues, and make timely and smart decisions to resolve problems.
In her current roles, Kolesar creates mid-year and end-of-year academic summaries for softball, volleyball, and soccer, monitors athletic study hall, and assesses academic eligibility of current and incoming student athletes. She also recruits prospective softball players that excel athletically and academically, creates, and manages effective pitching schedules and workout plans, and oversees softball scholarship budgets.
Kolesar holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff and a Master of Science in Higher Education and Administration from Arkansas Tech University. She also has a Master’s Certificate in Advising and is an NCAA Division I Recruiter Certification from 2013-2015. Kolesar is a team player who has served in various leadership roles, including team captain and president of the Student Athletic Advisory Committee.
Belinda Hendrix is a highly successful head softball coach with a proven track record of developing student-athletes both on and off the field. Hendrix is a strong recruiter, motivator, and communicator with an outstanding win/loss record. She has achieved numerous milestones in her career, including leading Chipola College to three National Championships in 2007, 2015, and 2019. She has also won six FCCAA State/Region VIII Championships and has been awarded Coach of the Year six times in 2007, 2010, 2013, 2015, 2016, and 2021. Additionally, Hendrix has ten Florida Panhandle Conference Championships and ten Conference Coach of the Year awards to her name.
Hendrix began her coaching career as the Head Softball Coach, ESE Certified Teacher at Vernon High School in 2001 and has since held coaching positions at Chipola College and East Tennessee State University. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Troy University in 2001 and received an Associate of Science degree from Thomas University.
Hendrix has achieved an overall collegiate record of 723-187 (.79%) and an overall high school record of 74-23 (.76%). She has coached over 50 NJCAA All Americans and graduated 90% of her student-athletes, while also sending over 70 former players to four-year institutions or National teams. With her numerous accolades and achievements, Hendrix has cemented herself as one of the most successful softball coaches in the country.
Beth Jackson is a passionate and experienced coach with a demonstrated history of preparing student-athletes for success both on and off the field. She holds a Master of Art in Teaching from the University of Arkansas, Monticello, an MA in Health Promotion and Human Performance from the University of North Alabama, and a BA in Psychology from the University of Alabama, Huntsville.
Jackson has over 18 years of experience as a head softball coach and instructor, most recently at Cabe Middle School, where she teaches keyboarding and career orientation and coaches high school softball for 7th-12th grade girls. Prior to this, Jackson spent 12 years at Henderson State University, where she managed all aspects of the game, recruited players, oversaw study halls, budgeted, and organized camps, among other duties. Under her leadership, the team won the 2015 Great American Conference championship, and she was named the 2015 Great American Conference Coach of the Year.
In addition to her work at the middle school and university levels, Jackson has also served as a head softball and literacy lab instructor at Nashville High School and as an assistant softball coach at Arkansas Tech University. As a player, she pitched for the University of Alabama, Huntsville, and Jefferson State Community College, where she was named the 2001 Player of the Year and an All American, 2nd Team.
Men’s Baseball Candidates:
Tucker Hughes is an accomplished baseball player and coach, currently working as a pitching coach and recruiting coordinator at Georgia Highlands College. He holds a B.A. in English from Thomas Edison State University and an M.A. in Organizational Leadership in Sports Management from Waldorf University, where he earned a 4.0 GPA and served as a graduate council leader. Hughes is currently pursuing an M.Ed. in Higher Education Administration at Georgia Southern University.
As a player, Hughes competed at the Division 2 level for Ohio Dominican University and Ohio Valley University. He served as team captain his senior year at Ohio Valley University, where he developed his ball speed from 85 to 89-92 through an intense throwing and recovery program and strength/conditioning. He also played summer ball for the Queen City Legends, where he was elected as team captain.
Hughes has extensive coaching experience, with a record of 248-166. At Georgia Highlands College, he has successfully recruited high-caliber student-athletes and developed game plans for the pitching staff. He maintains high academic standards for all student-athletes and imposes academic discipline. He also works closely with the coaching staff on fundraising activities, develops off-season and in-season development programs for the pitching staff, and conducts in-game pitching charts and velocity charts. Under his guidance, several players have received All-American and All-Conference recognition, and the team has set records for wins, complete games, and ERA. Tucker’s resume demonstrates he is highly skilled in developing players on and off the field.
Steven Adams Jr. is a highly accomplished and experienced coach, educator, and operations director. He holds a Master of Science in Sport Administration and a Bachelor of General Studies with minors in History and Social Science, both from Northwestern State University.
Steven has a proven track record of success in various roles, including Director of Baseball Operations at Eastern Kentucky University and Co-Founder and Director of Baseball Operations and Player Development at Team Louisiana HS Summer Baseball Organization.
From 2016 to 2021, he served as the Head Baseball Coach, Educator, CDL Bus Driver, and Outside Sports Field Maintenance staff for Baseball, Softball, and Soccer at Louisiana State University of Alexandria. During his tenure, he raised over $271,000, graduated 55 student-athletes, and helped 14 players move on to play professional baseball. He also managed to carry between 45-65 student-athletes every year with no more than three total coaches on staff.
Steven has held several other coaching and teaching positions throughout his career, including as Head Baseball Coach, History Teacher, PE Teacher, CDL Bus Driver, and Assistant Men’s Basketball, Head Cross Country, Bowling, and Golf Coach at Vermilion Catholic High School.
He has received several awards and honors, including the 2006 Northwood’s League Coach of the Year, several RRAC Player of the Year and Pitcher of the Year, All-American, and All-Louisiana team selections.
Steven is a dedicated professional who is committed to providing the best possible educational and athletic experience to his students and players.
