The Ozark Board of Education, during their April 11 board meeting, voted to hire Jayme Donnelly as Ozark High School’s head boys basketball coach beginning the 2024-25 school year.

“I am excited for the opportunity to lead such an established basketball program here in southwest Missouri,” Donnelly said. “I cannot wait to get started and be part of the Ozark community!”

Donnelly comes to Ozark with 11 years of coaching experience from around the southwest Missouri area and has coached under some of the area’s best, including Lamont Frazier (Willard), Dick Rippee (Kickapoo), and Mitch McHenrey (Kickapoo).

Since 2017, he has served Kickapoo High School as head coach for the JV boys basketball team and assistant coach for the varsity team. During his tenure, his JV teams have had a combined record of 138-21. He has assisted in leading the varsity team to four district titles, six conference titles and three final four appearances in the state tournament, including one state runner-up finish and one state championship in 2021.

Ozark High School Athletic Director Yancey Little said he is excited for Donnelly to join Ozark and bring his talent to the program.

“He‘s been a part of arguably one of the best programs in southwest Missouri for the last eight seasons and has worked under some amazing coaches,” Little said. “He’s had tremendous success with his JV teams, and I think he will do great things with our boys basketball program.”

Donnelly also spent two seasons at Willard High School as JV head coach and a varsity assistant coach where he helped the team win a district championship. For all his success as a coach, he was also a highly accomplished player. Donnelly played basketball at Linn High School where he was a first team all-state athlete twice. He was also named conference player of the year twice, helped lead his team to three district championships and one final four berth in the state tournament; and was a nominee for McDonald’s All-American his senior year.

In college, he played for Evangel University. During his time as a Valor, the team advanced to the national tournament, winning their conference tournament twice. His junior year, he led the nation in three point percentage and tied the school season record.

Donnelly will be teaching P.E. at Ozark High School. He is replacing Mark Schweitzer as head coach. Schweitzer has been head coach since 2013.