UCA extends Shulman through after historic season in ASUN

CONWAY, Ark. — Central Arkansas coach John Shulman has earned a contract extension after guiding the Bears to one of the most successful seasons in program history.

Athletics director Matt Whiting announced the new agreement that will keep Shulman leading the program through the 2029–30 season.

The move comes after a standout second season in Conway that saw the Bears finish 22-12 overall and 15-3 in Atlantic Sun Conference play.

UCA also advanced to the ASUN Championship final after winning two games in the conference tournament.

Strong turnaround in second season

Shulman arrived at UCA in 2024 and quickly began reshaping the program. He didn’t wait around and found a leader for his second season when he got Camren Hunter back from Wisconsin.

Hunter, who Shulman has said was the hardest-working player on the team, came close to getting the Bears into the NCAA Tournament at the ASUN Tournament in Jacksonville, Fla., last week.

His second year brought dramatic improvement as the Bears captured their first NCAA Division I regular-season conference title and reached the ASUN tournament championship game for the first time.

The success also earned Shulman recognition across the league. He was named ASUN Coach of the Year after leading UCA to the best record in conference play.

The turnaround was notable when compared to the season before. In his first year, the team finished with a 4-14 conference record and placed 10th in the standings. Just one season later, the Bears surged to the top of the league.

During the 2025-26 campaign, the Bears posted several program bests for the NCAA Division I era. The team set new marks for overall wins, conference victories, longest winning streak and highest finish in the ASUN standings.

Leadership praised by athletics department

Whiting credited Shulman for quickly building momentum within the program.

“Coach Shulman has infused great energy into our men’s basketball program and taken our program to new heights in a very short amount of time,” Whiting said.

He also noted that the staff has built a strong culture and raised expectations for the program.

“He and his staff have instilled a strong culture and set a new standard for men’s basketball at UCA,” Whiting said.

Whiting added that the extension comes during an important period for the athletics department, which is navigating changes in college sports and exploring plans for a future on-campus arena.

Bears find success on both ends of court

UCA’s improvement during the season showed up in the numbers. The Bears averaged 83.6 points per game while allowing 74.6 points per contest. Both figures ranked second among ASUN teams.

Their scoring margin of plus-nine points led the conference.

UCA also turned the Farris Center into a difficult place for visiting teams. The Bears went 15-1 at home, with the only defeat coming in overtime.

The strong finish included an 11-game ASUN winning streak and a stretch where the Bears won 15 of their final 17 games. The only conference losses came in overtime and on the road.

Shulman said the season showed progress but also made clear the program wants to keep building.

“We came out to Conway and UCA to do something special. We got close,” Shulman said.

He also pointed toward the future for the program.

“We have unfinished business! We got a lot of work to do and we are excited about the future,” Shulman said.

Shulman thanked university leaders for their support of the program and said the team is ready to continue working toward bigger goals.

“UCA basketball is just getting started,” he said.

The extension signals that UCA believes the Bears are moving in the right direction under Shulman’s leadership as the program continues to grow in the ASUN Conference.