Anthony Boone became the head coach at the University of Central Arkansas in March 2020 at the conclusion of the 2019-20 season.
Boone, who played collegiately at Ole Miss, spent the previous six years as UCA's associate head coach, arriving in Conway for the 2014-15 season. He took over the program as interim head coach in December 2019 and led the team for the final 22 games of the season. Dr. Brad Teague, UCA's athletic director, removed the interim tag on March 9.
Boone was previously a graduate assistant coach at his alma mater Ole Miss, then an assistant coach for three seasons at Murray State (2000-03) and six seasons at Jackson State (2003-09) and for four seasons at Grand Canyon University (2009-13) He also was an assistant coach for the Phoenix Mercury of the WNBA for one season before coming to UCA.
As a player for Ole Miss under head coach Rob Evans, Boone led the Rebels to back-to-back 20-win seasons for the first time in 60 years. He was a senior on the team that lost in the 1998 NCAA Tournament to Valparaiso on a memorable last-second shot.
Despite undergoing four knee surgeries, Boone started 79 of 94 games at Ole Miss. Even with relatively modest career averages of 7.2 points and 4.8 rebounds, his inspirational play was recognized by the retirement of his number (41) — only the second student-athlete to be so honored by the school (quarterback Archie Manning, the father of NFL quarterbacks Peyton an Eli Manning, was the first). After his senior season, Boone was one of seven finalists for the Chip Hilton Award, given annually by the Basketball Hall of Fame to a player who demonstrates character on and off the court. He is a member of the Ole Miss Hall of Fame and twice was selected for the Southeastern Conference Academic Honor Roll.
Boone holds a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering and a master’s degree in mathematics, both from Ole Miss. He was class salutatorian at Central High School in West Helena, Ark., where he was an all-state athlete.
Boone and his wife, Jennifer, have two daughters, Rebecca and Lyndsey.
