OKLAHOMA CITY – The Mid-America Christian men's basketball program is proud to announce the return of Cade Upshaw, who will serve as the team's Graduate Assistant Coach for the 2020-21 season.
Upshaw makes his way back to MACU after serving one season as the Assistant Coach for MACU's Sooner Athletic Conference rival, Southwestern Christian. Alongside former MACU Assistant Coach Brandon Rollins, Upshaw helped lead the Eagles to a 6-11 record and a 4-6 mark in SAC play to finish seventh in the league standings.
Upshaw served as the team's recruiting coordinator and organized individual workouts and film study as well organizing team fundraisers and study halls.
"I am really excited to have Cade back," said MACU Head Coach Josh Gamblin. "He brings a unique perspective having played and coached for me, but now has also been a coach under one of the best in Brandon Rollins. I know I speak for Coach (Anthony) Nero and our players when I say we are fired up to get him back to MACU."
"I'm so excited to be back home and working under Coach (Josh) Gamblin," said Upshaw. "He's one of the best coaches in college basketball and an even better man. I'm looking forward to learning from him and Coach (Anthony) Nero every day. This is home and I can't wait to get to work."
Upshaw served as a Student-Assistant Coach for the Evangels during the 2019-20 season, helping guide MACU to its best season ever since joining the SAC and NAIA in 2007. That Evangels team won their second Sooner Athletic Conference regular season title, going 19-1 in conference play and 30-2 overall.
In his season with MACU, Upshaw had the opportunity to mentor NAIA and NCCAA All-American Ashford Golden as well as All-SAC Second Team honoree Cedric Wright, who have both went on to play professionally overseas since completing their playing careers with the Evangels.
Before moving into coaching, Upshaw competed for two seasons on the MACU men's basketball team. Between the 2017-18 and 2018-19 campaigns, Upshaw played in 67 games, averaging 5.5 points per game on 38.9 percent shooting, 39.2 percent from three and 85.5 percent from the free throw line. Upshaw also ripped down 104 rebounds and dished out 81 assists in those two seasons.
Upshaw was a key member of the 2018-19 squad that qualified for the NAIA National Championship Tournament, upending No. 1 seed Tougaloo (Ala.) 73-64 in the opening round on Mar. 21, 2019.
In a 104-85 victory against Oklahoma Panhandle State at the Gaulke Activity Center on Feb. 17, 2018, Upshaw scored a career-high 20 points on 6-of-7 shooting, including going 5-for-6 from behind the arc.
Before transferring to MACU, Upshaw was a two-year starter for Northern Oklahoma College-Tonkawa, where he earned NJCAA Region II All-Region honors while leading the Mavericks to the Sweet 16 in the NJCAA National Championship Tournament.
Upshaw will officially join the Evangels on June 1.
