Jennings starts his new position on Aug. 11. "We have known that Aaron was ready to lead a program for the past few years, so we were happy that we were able to keep him on staff while still giving him the opportunity to become a head coach," Reisinger said. "Aaron has extensive knowledge of the game and understands the place of athletics within the educational mission of Mount Mercy."

Jennings, an Atkins native and former Benton Community prep, was a first-team all-state selection as a senior for the Bobcats. He earned a bachelor of science in communication from Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill., in 2003. Jennings was a four-year letterwinner and team captain his junior and senior seasons for the Wildcats.

In between a brief professional playing career in Croatia in 2003 and a stint with the Cedar Rapids River Raiders in 2004, Jennings was the assistant boys' basketball coach at Benton Community and was named Iowa Class 3A Assistant Coach of the Year. He has been Paul Gavin's top assistant since joining the Mount Mercy men's basketball staff prior to the 2004-05 campaign.

"I want to thank Scot Reisinger for the opportunity to lead the Mount Mercy women's basketball program, as well as Paul Gavin for giving me confidence in my coaching ability and allowing me to learn and grow with the men's program the past four years," Jennings said.

"I am excited to take over the Mustang women's basketball program," Jennings continued. "It is rich in tradition. I enjoyed my time as an assistant in the men's program and look forward to the challenge of leading the women's program." Jennings takes over for Shawn Stimmel, who was 10-20 in his only season at Mount Mercy before resigning in June to pursue opportunities outside of basketball.

"We have six returning letterwinners who bring talent and leadership to this team, and I will be counting on them to set an example for the incoming recruits," commented Jennings. "We have several incoming student-athletes with a wide array of talents and abilities, and I am confident we will mesh as a team and be successful."

With an all-time record of 734-379, Mount Mercy has averaged nearly 20 wins per season since 1971. The Mustangs have appeared in 10 national tournaments, own seven MCC championships and count 17 all-Americans. During the 1999-2000 campaign, Mount Mercy became just the second NAIA institution to reach the 600-victory plateau.