Mark Cenicola
Women’s Basketball Head Coach
April 14, 2026 – Spoon River College has announced Mark A. Cenicola as the new Head Coach of its Women’s Basketball Team. Bringing over 12 years of combined coaching experience across multiple levels of basketball and baseball plus a unique background in business leadership, Cenicola is strongly positioned to make SRC a serious contender for success in a very competitive Region 24 that saw three programs ranked in the top 10 nationally in the most recent season.
Cenicola most recently served as Head Coach of the Western Gulf Collegiate women’s basketball program where he also previously served as Associate Head Coach during the 2025-2026 season.
His responsibilities will combine leading all aspects of the women’s basketball program including player support and development both on and off the court to prepare the team for competition amongst top-ranked NJCAA DII teams. Cenicola brings significant connections in recruiting, especially in the strong basketball area of Houston, TX which has consistently produced high-level talent amongst very competitive high school programs.
“We are excited to bring Coach Cenicola into a women’s basketball program that offers a small-campus environment where players are well-known and supported,” said Director of Athletics, John Bassett. “As we look to improve our standings in Region 24, Cenicola brings the recruiting experience to help us attract talent to our wonderful campus and facilities in Canton.”
“I’m very excited about the opportunity to improve the competitiveness of SRC’s women’s basketball program and make it a top contender in Region 24 and the country,” said Cenicola. “My plan to attract local area talent and compliment it with additional strong talent from my various recruiting connections in other locations to make SRC women’s basketball program seen as one of the toughest teams on our competitors’ schedules.
A seasoned coach, Cenicola has worked with female basketball players ranging from youth developmental leagues to college levels, as well as male and female athletes aged 10 to 40, including professional baseball players. Recent coaching roles include Head Coach of the Girls Varsity White Basketball Team at Annunciation Orthodox School, where he focused on skill enhancement and teamwork for 7th and 8th graders, and Head Coach of BV Basketball, a corporate-sponsored club team in Texas emphasizing development for second-chance players. At Cornerstone Christian Academy, he led the middle school girls’ team to a West Houston Christian Athletic Conference Consolation Bracket Tournament Championship, and at Katy Youth Basketball, he coached junior high girls in one of the largest programs of its kind, preparing athletes for competitive play at the high school level.
Beyond basketball, Cenicola’s multi-sport background includes playing and managing the Las Vegas Rattlers baseball team (2002-2008), where he worked with former college and minor league athletes. His athletic experience complements his professional achievements as Chairman, President, and CEO of BannerView.com, a Cenicola-Helvin Enterprise Brand. An author of two books – ”Help Wanted: Women to Play College Basketball” and “The Banner Brand – Small Business Success Comes from a Banner Brand, Build it on a Budget”; Cenicola translates his entrepreneurial leadership to empower women and girls in sports. Cenicola holds a Bachelor of Science from Southern Utah University and an Associate of Applied Science from Snow College.