ROCHESTER, Mich. ???C Darren Sorenson, former Director of Basketball Operations at the University of Arkansas, joins the Oakland University men???s basketball coaching staff, announced head coach Greg Kampe. Sorenson, a native of St. Ignace, Mich., will assist with the day-to-day operations of the men???s program.
Sorenson comes to OU after spending the previous five seasons at the University of Arkansas. With the Razorbacks, his responsibilities included scouting, budgeting and equipment, video coordination and direction of the program???s summer camp schedule.
He owns a wide variety of experience in the coaching ranks, having worked under Stan Heath, Steve Lavin, Lefty Driesel and Mike LaPlante. He has also served at the international level as a head coach.
Sorenson spent one season (2001-02) at Jacksonville State as the director of operations while also completing his master???s work in general studies.
In 2001 he was presented with the opportunity to work as the head coach of the Qatar Junior National Team while also serving as an assistant on the national squad. The national team went undefeated and won the country???s fist championship in the Gulf Coast Countries Tournament. The squad also won the under-21 Asian Championship and was one of 12 countries to qualify for the world championships in Japan.
Prior to a pair of stints at Georgia State (1999-00) and UCLA (1998-99), Sorenson began his collegiate coaching career at Mount Senario College (1996-97 ???C 1997-98). While working at his alma mater (bachelor???s in business administration, 1995), he was the head assistant coach. As an administrative assistant at UCLA, the Bruins collected the nation???s top-ranked recruiting class.
A four-year letterwinner at Mount Senario, Sorenson guided the program to the National Small College Athletic Association national title in 1994. He concluded his career as the school???s all-time leader in games played (163), rebounds (930) and was sixth in points (1,292). He was also an all-conference performer in baseball.
Sorenson married the former Lindsey Shirey in May of 2007.
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