[post_format]

Head Men’s Basketball Coach Ray Shovlain has returned to St. Ambrose University for his 42nd season, bringing with him a wealth of experience and leadership after overcoming recent health challenges.

Though he missed much of last year due to health issues, Coach Shovlain is back and eager to guide the men’s basketball team on the court. “All these challenges that I’ve been through here over the last nine months… it’s the one thing that got me going,” says Coach Shovlain.

Under his leadership, the St. Ambrose Bees have now started the season with a perfect 5-0 record, a promising sign of what’s to come.

When reflecting on his team, Coach Shovlain expressed his confidence, saying, “We have a group that’s very talented and full of very quality people.”

The Bees’ roster is stacked with returning talent, including key seniors like Will Spriggs and Guillermo Narbona, whose leadership and experience are crucial to the team’s success. These veterans provide a solid foundation for the team as they look to make this season one of the best in recent years.

“It feels good,” says senior Will Spriggs. “It’s a very nice feeling to have somebody that pushes through adversity and a lot of the the things that he went through. It’s nice to have somebody in that leaderhship role to guide the team”

While the team has new faces, Coach Shovlain remains optimistic about their integration into the group. “The one thing that’s been excellent is our senior leadership blending in with our new players,” he said.

This seamless blend of seasoned veterans and fresh talent has created an exciting atmosphere within the team. The Bees are eager to build on their early success and continue to improve as the season progresses, aiming to make a strong impact both on the court and in the conference.

Click here for more on Coach Ray’s journey since his return to the court.

More posts from this author

SAU Dance Marathon Puts Their Best Foot Forward for Fall Push Day

SAU Weekly's Evelyn Shaw showcases the hard work DM15 puts into their Fall Push Day and how much they raised during a week of fundraising.

SAU Goes Green for Sustainability Fest

SAU Weekly's Brandt Williams takes us to the annual Sustainability Fest, where various campus clubs and community organizations showcase ways of being sustainable.

SAU Weekly: October 9, 2026

On this edition of SAU Weekly, our Dance Marathon chapter puts its best foot forward, the Sustainability Fest encourages students to go green and we look back at 30 years of our campus library.

What’s the Buzz?: Previewing Dance Marathon’s Push Week

SAU Weekly's Evelyn Shaw sits down with SAU Dance Marathon's VP of Finance Emily Drifka for a preview of another exciting Fall Push Week. Plus, get a look at the fresh new look at DM15's new branding!