Trey Burnett
LIBERAL, Kan. – Seward County Community College has named Antwain Scales as the next head coach of its women’s basketball program following a coaching career that has included successful stops at the high school, NJCAA and NCAA Division I levels within the state of Kansas.
Scales becomes the 11th head coach in Lady Saints program history.
A Wichita native, Scales most recently spent the past two seasons as an assistant coach at Wichita State after previous head coaching stops at Garden City Community College and Colby Community College.
Before joining Wichita State, Scales spent three seasons leading the Garden City program, where he coached eight All-KJCCC selections and guided the Broncbusters to an 18-12 overall finish during the 2021-22 season.
Prior to Garden City, Scales helped engineer a turnaround at Colby Community College. After inheriting a program coming off a 5-26 season, the Trojans improved to 19-13 overall by his second year at the helm.
Scales also built one of the premier high school girls basketball programs in Kansas during his tenure at Wichita South High School. He led the Titans to four consecutive Kansas 6A state championships from 2013 to 2016 and earned National Coach of the Year honors. Scales remains the only coach in Kansas history to win four straight Class 6A girls basketball state titles and compiled a 152-18 record at South.
“We are excited to have Coach Scales on board to lead our women’s basketball program,” said Associate Vice President of Athletics Cody Cole. “He has been a respected figure in Kansas basketball for many years, from his time as a premier high school coach to successful stops at two KJCCC institutions and experience at the NCAA Division I level. Coach Scales brings a high standard, strong leadership and a competitive mindset that will help develop our student-athletes into outstanding players and people both on and off the court.”
For Scales, the opportunity to lead Seward County is about building relationships, developing student-athletes and continuing the tradition associated with Lady Saints basketball.
“I am incredibly honored and excited to be selected as the next head coach of the women’s basketball program at Seward County Community College,” said Scales. “I want to thank Athletic Director Cody Cole and President Brad Bennett for trusting me with this opportunity. This program has a strong foundation and great tradition, and I am committed to building a culture centered on hard work, accountability and student-athlete success both on the court and in the classroom. I’m looking forward to working with our student-athletes, connecting with the community and continuing to grow this program the right way.”
SCCC President Brad Bennett, who previously worked alongside Scales at Colby Community College, said the hire stands out because of both Scales’ coaching experience and his ability to connect with student-athletes.
“Today marks an exciting new chapter for Seward County and our women’s basketball program,” said Bennett. “I am excited to work with Coach Scales again. From our time together at Colby Community College, I have known he is a great women’s basketball coach. His ability to lead and develop student-athletes is among the best out there. We are proud to welcome a leader whose integrity, competitive spirit and commitment to student-athlete success reflect the very best of who we are. We believe in building a program that our campus and community can rally behind, and under his leadership, I am confident our student-athletes will thrive both on the court and in the classroom. The future of our women’s basketball program is bright.”
Scales earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Fort Hays State in 2015.
