Men's Basketball Coaches

Curtis Christopher - Head Coach

Coach Curtis Christopher is back at the helm for his 9th year as head coach of the OCU Men's Basketball program. He is coming off of four consecutive historical seasons at Ohio Christian University. In the 2007-08 basketball season, Coach Christopher led the team to its first 20 win season and ACCA National Tournament Runner-Up.  Recognized as the NCCAA Mid-East Region Coach of the Year, Coach Christopher led the team to the NCCAA National Tournament for the first time in 28 years during the 2008-09 Season.  The men's team was ranked #5 in the nation for the first time in school history.

The 2009-10 Season was yet another banner year with Coach Christopher leading the Trailblazers to a 28-8 winning season.  The team won Mid-East Region honors with a bid to the NCCAA National Tournament for the second year in a row.  The Trailblazers haven been ranked as high as #2 in the nation with Coach Christopher being honored as a two time NCCAA Mid-East Region Coach of the Year.

Christopher, always looking for new challenges and new mountains to climb, had opportunities for more landmark accomplishments during the 2010-11 season.  The 2010-11 team won the mid east region for the 2nd straight season and were ranked as high as #2 in the NCCAA National Poll.  The Blazers then won three games at the NCCAA National Tournament to claim 5th place nationally.  Coach Christopher became the first coach to win 100 career games in the history of the OCU athletic department.  He has coached 13 academic all-americans and 5 all-americans during his tenure.  

Basketball has been part of Coach C's life for many years. He coached at the high school level for several years in which he earned four straight final four and two state runner up awards. Education has also been an integral part of his life.

Christopher earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Olivet Nazarene University in 1992 and his Masters in Education from American Intercontinental University in 2000. He has taught at the high school and college levels, co-founded a Christian school, and is currently teaching at OCU where he also serves as Vice President of IT and Operations.  He is married to Amy and has two children, Clayton and Coralie.

Coach Christopher is passionate about basketball, but even more passionate about helping young people find God's will for their lives. He believes the game of basketball can be used to teach life lessons and takes great joy knowing that God can use him to help shape and mold world changers for today.

Jamey Batten - Recruiting Coordinator

Coach Batten comes to OCU after a four year stint as the head women's basketball coach at NAIA affilate, Cincinnati Christian University.  At Cincinnati Christian, Batten led the Golden Eagles to a 56-32 (.636) overall record while reaching the Elite 8 of the National Tournament, earning an NCCAA Division I Top 10 Ranking, and appearing three times in the NAIA Top 25 National Poll.  Batten leaves CCU as the All-Time Career wins leader.  In his last two seasons at CCU, two of his players were honored as 1st Team All-Conference selections and one player signed an NCAA Division I scholarhip at IUPUI.

Batten, a longtime member of the OCU family, served previously at Ohio Christian from 2003-2007 and was named the Athletic Director and Head Coach of the men's basketball team in 2005.  His 2006-07 team was ranked as high as 8th in the NCCAA Division II National Poll.  His 2007 recruiting class comprised of Mike Farrell, Tim Baker, Mike Baker, and Stefan Vasiloff ushered in a new era of success for OCU men's basketball.

Jamey played for Ohio Christian from 1997-2001 and was a team captain during his junior and senior seasons.  He was a member of the 2000 team that earned an at-large bid to the NCCAA National Tournament.  Batten graduated in 2001 with his BA in teacher education and earned his state of Ohio teaching certification.  Upon graduation he took a position at CCU Prep Academy as Head Coach and Athletic Director.   In his two years at CCA he led the Runnin Jaguars to an SOCL Conference Championship and State Runner-Up finish.  

Batten currenlty serves the OCU campus in the role Athletic Recruiting Coordinator.  He resides in Circleville, Ohio and is also a licensed minister in the Church of the Nazarene.

Greg Bryant - Head Coach Junior Varsity

Coach Greg Bryant starts his first year as the new head coach of the junior varsity program.   For the past three seasons, Coach Bryant has served as academic and strength Coach of the varsity program. “Coach Bryant is a Christian family man that has a real love for OCU and our basketball program.  We look forward to seeing the JV program develop and have success under the leadership of Coach Bryant.” Say Coach Christopher.

Greg also holds the rank of Major at the 121st ARW Rickenbacker Air National Guard where he works full-time. Coach Bryant received his BA in Sociology/ Criminology from Ohio University in 1993 and his MBA from Franklin University in 1999. He and his wife Shannon have three children, Caymen, Brooklyn and Siennah and reside in Stoutsville, Ohio.