1 State of Arkansas
2 94th General Assembly
3 Fiscal Session, 2024 SR 34
4
5 By: Senator Dees
6
7 SENATE RESOLUTION
8 CONGRATULATING JOHN BROWN UNIVERSITY WOMEN'S
9 BASKETBALL HEAD COACH JEFF SODERQUIST UPON HIS
10 RETIREMENT AND COMMENDING HIM FOR HIS CONTRIBUTIONS
11 TO THE JOHN BROWN UNIVERSITY BASKETBALL PROGRAM.
12
13
14 Subtitle
15 CONGRATULATING JOHN BROWN UNIVERSITY
16 WOMEN'S BASKETBALL HEAD COACH JEFF
17 SODERQUIST UPON HIS RETIREMENT AND
18 COMMENDING HIM FOR HIS CONTRIBUTIONS TO
19 THE JOHN BROWN UNIVERSITY BASKETBALL
20 PROGRAM.
21
22
23 WHEREAS, after twenty-seven (27) seasons leading the John Brown
24 University women's basketball program, Head Coach Jeff Soderquist announced
25 his retirement on March 26, 2024, in the wake of a record-shattering season
26 that saw the John Brown University Golden Eagles secure a pair of league
27 titles and qualify for the NAIA National Championships; and
28
29 WHEREAS, Head Coach Jeff Soderquist arrived at John Brown University as
30 a student-athlete in 1988 and continued with John Brown University as the
31 Assistant Director of Athletics and Head Coach of the women's basketball
32 program for the next thirty-six (36) years; and
33
34 WHEREAS, in his years as head coach, Jeff Soderquist:
35 (1) Amassed a program-record four hundred twenty-four (424)
36 wins;
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1 (2) Led the John Brown University Golden Eagles to seven (7)
2 NAIA National Championships;
3 (3) Led the John Brown University Golden Eagles to a national
4 semifinal finish in 2014; and
5 (4) Led the John Brown University Golden Eagles through seven
6 (7) 20-win seasons; and
7 WHEREAS, as the most successful coach in program history, Head Coach
8 Jeff Soderquist orchestrated an incredible final season that produced not
9 only his second-career Sooner Athletic Coach distinction, but also a bevy of
10 program defining moments including the most wins in a single season and the
11 longest winning streak; and
12
13 WHEREAS, John Brown University hoisted three (3) new banners in the
14 2023-2024 season:
15 (1) Winning the league's regular season title;
16 (2) Securing the program's first tournament crown; and
17 (3) Making another appearance in the NAIA National
18 Championships; and
19
20 WHEREAS, over the last two (2) seasons, John Brown University compiled
21 a 50-14 record and a 36-8 mark in league play; and
22
23 WHEREAS, the John Brown University women's basketball team finished 13-
24 1 in Siloam Springs this past season, setting a new single-season record with
25 a home winning percentage of point nine hundred and twenty-nine (.929); and
26
27 WHEREAS, during his tenure, Head Coach Jeff Soderquist's players
28 combined to garner thirty-eight (38) All-Sooner Athletic honors including
29 nine (9) first team selections, four (4) SAC Freshmen of the Year picks, and
30 one (1) league Player of the Year nod; and
31
32 WHEREAS, Head Coach Jeff Soderquist has deeply impacted his student-
33 athletes and the John Brown University community,
34
35 NOW THEREFORE,
36 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE
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 SR34
1 STATE OF ARKANSAS:
2
3 THAT the Senate congratulate John Brown University Women's Head Coach
4 Jeff Soderquist upon his retirement and commend him for his contributions to
5 the John Brown University basketball program.
6
7 BE IF FURTHER RESOLVED that upon adoption, a copy of this resolution shall be
8 provided to Head Coach Jeff Soderquist by the Secretary of the Senate.
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