05.29.12 
Southeastern Names R-Jay Barsh Next Fire Men's Basketball Coach

By Southeastern University

The next era of Southeastern Fire men's basketball has officially begun.

SEU Director of Athletics Duane Aagaard named Roy "R-Jay" Barsh II the program's new coach on Friday, May 25. He replaces John Dunlap, who resigned as coach on April 16 after 11 seasons.

Barsh has spent the past four years as the head assistant coach for Tacoma (Wash.) Community College. He is considered one of the top recruiters on the West Coast and has helped lead the Titans to a string of successful seasons in the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges.

"(Coach Barsh) is a talented recruiter with contacts at all levels of basketball and from all corners of the country," Aagaard said. "He arrives with high praise for his passion, leadership, and innovation."

In 2009, Barsh and the Titans made the Elite 8 in the NWAACC Tournament, then finished with a perfect 16-0 record in the Western Region the following year. As the head assistant under head coach Carl Howell, the duo combined to average 25 wins a season with three Western Region titles the past four years.

As the primary recruiter for the program, Barsh pulled in some of the top junior college players in the country, including Mark McLaughlin, who led all community college players in scoring in 2011-12, averaging 28.4 points per game.

Prior to his tenure at TCC, Barsh spent one season at Lincoln High School in Seattle, where he helped guide the school to the state semifinals and a 26-5 record.

From 2005-2007, Barsh was an assistant coach at the University of Puget Sound. In his first season with the Loggers, the program finished 26-5 mark and earned an NCAA D-III Elite Eight appearance. He also graduated from the school in 2007 with a degree in communication and public rhetoric.

Before he began his coaching career, Barsh enjoyed a successful playing career at Tacoma Community College from 2001-2003. In his first season, he led the Titans to a NWAACC title and a 30-3 overall record. In 2003, Barsh was named Second Team All-Conference.

Off the court, Barsh has spent the past 10 years as an integral part of Northwest Basketball Camps (NBC), which is a Christ-centered camp program that utilizes basketball to impact the hearts and minds of young people through Jesus Christ. Barsh has led several camps around the world, including in Italy, the United Kingdom, and Alaska. This summer he plans to lead a camp in Hawaii, with several NBA stars scheduled to be in attendance. He is also the founder of SkyMotivation, which is a ministry he uses to help young people grow in Christ.

Barsh and his wife, Christy, currently reside in Renton, Wash., and have a 14-year old son, Carson.

For the complete athletic department release, including reaction from across the country, click here.

You can follow coach Barsh on Twitter @CoachRjayBarsh.