Skylar Bareford enters her fifth year as the head women's basketball coach in 2022-23. Bareford was named the eighth head coach in program history in the spring of 2018.
FAST FACTS
Years at Covenant: 4 (2018-present)
Overall record: 37-60 (.381)
Conference record: 26-35 (.426)
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Science, Recreation, Sport, and Wellness; Biblical Studies (Gordon, ‘14)
Master of Arts in Education, Curriculum and Instruction (Greenville, ‘16)
PROGRAM ACCOLADES
- 5 All-USA South West Division selections
- 21 USA South All-Academic honorees (through 2021-22)
- 3 USA South Player of the Week honors
- 4 USA South Rookie of the Week honors
- USA South Team Sportsmanship Award (2019-20)
IN THE MEDIA
SEASON HIGHLIGHTS
2021-22: Bareford's squad got out to a 6-1 start, including a win over Maryville, in the 2021-22 season. It was the best start to a season since 2001-02. Cosette Kirsch and Ruthie Moore earned All-USA South West Division honors, marking the first time Covenant has put two players on All-USA South teams in the conference. Moore set a program single-game record with 24 rebounds in a road win at Agnes Scott.
2020-21: Despite COVID protocols in place, Covenant played 23 games (third-most in Division III) and went 8-15 overall and 7-7 in league play. Freshman Destiny Mergilles was a first team USA South All-West Division honoree and was the conference's Rookie of the Week three times. The Scots went 7-1 in the month of February, including a 28-point win at Huntingdon
2019-20: Bareford guided her team to a USA South Tournament appearance for a fourth straight year overall in 2019-20 as the Scots finished 10-16 (7-9 USA South). Covenant was voted as the USA South Team Sportsmanship Award recipient. Hannah Monday flourished in her junior year as she earned first team All-USA South West Division, becoming the first player to collect first team all-division honors for Covenant since joining the USA South.
2018-19: In her first season at Covenant, Bareford's squad qualified for the USA South Tournament and went 10-16 overall and 7-9 in league play. Senior Joanna Smith earned All-USA South West Division second team honors.
QUOTABLE
"I am committed to us becoming a dynamic, disciplined and selfless team on the court," said Bareford about her goals for the Covenant program at the time of her hiring. "Our goal will be to set the tone in every game in enthusiasm, encouragement, and energy from the bench to the floor. In all we do, on and off the court, my vision is for our young women to graduate from Covenant knowing more fully who they are in Christ, what it means to genuinely care for one another, and how their passions can propel them toward a meaningful career."
Continued Bareford, "I have been drawn to Covenant due to the priority that the institution places on Christian discipleship, while also pursuing excellence in all areas. It is my desire that our team will reflect these same values in all that we do."
"I am deeply appreciative to coaches Roy Mulholland, Doug Faulkner, and Brian Reinhard for pouring into my life. It has been a privilege to work with and learn from them the last four years at Greenville University. To my former players for their commitment to our core values, hard work, and joy that brought us great success at Greenville and opened this door for me. Lastly, I want to thank my former college professor Dr. Valerie Gin for helping me to begin my coaching career and her continued mentorship," added Bareford.
PLAYING CAREER
Bareford is a 2014 graduate of Gordon (Mass.) College where she played both basketball and softball. On the basketball court, Bareford was a team captain in each of her final two years, while serving as a team captain on the softball team during the same period. She was an All-Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) honorable mention player in softball as a senior and was a four-time CCC All-Academic performer.
BEFORE COVENANT
Bareford came to Covenant after spending four seasons as an assistant coach at Greenville (Ill.) University. In addition to her role as the top assistant for head coach Roy Mulholland, Bareford served as the senior woman administrator and was an instructor in the sport and kinesiology department.
During her tenure at Greenville, Bareford helped the program to a 77-39 record with an NCCAA national championship in 2017 and an NCAA Tournament appearance in 2016. Greenville had eight All-St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) players over the last four years. Bareford played a large role in the recruiting efforts of the program, while also directing team leadership, scouting, in-game coaching, and a host of other responsibilities.
Bareford earned her bachelor's degree in recreation, sport, and wellness and also biblical studies from Gordon in 2014. She then finished her master's of arts in education degree in curriculum and instruction from Greenville in 2016.
YEAR-BY-YEAR
2018-19: 10-16 (7-9 USA South)
2019-20: 10-16 (7-9 USA South)
2020-21: 8-15 (7-7 USA South)
2021-22: 9-13 (5-10 USA South)
