Scott Day is in his first year as an assistant men’s basketball coach under head coach Jeff Rutter.
Buck started his coaching career in 1994 as an assistant coach in the GSAC at Azusa Pacific University under NAIA Hall of Fame head coach Bill Odell, where they finished first each year winning 84% (47-9) of their GSAC conference games (‘94-’98). The 1998 team was the first in school history to advance to the Final Four of the NAIA Tournament, ultimately ending the season at 34-5 (most wins). Coach Day also assisted the Men’s and Women’s Basketball programs and football program at UCLA as an academic coordinator during the ’95 & 96’ seasons. Coach Day then took his talents to the University of Sioux Falls in South Dakota, where he was an assistant coach under former Azusa Pacific University assistant coach and current NCAA Div I head coach Jim Hayford (Eastern Washington University).
After returning from the Midwest, Buck was named Head Coach of Western Christian High School in Covina, CA where he led the Lancers to three straight league titles and their first ever Semi-Final appearance in the Southern Section (CIF) playoffs where he earned Christian League Coach of the Year honors 3 years in a row. Coach Day then was named head coach at Linfield Christian High School in Temecula, CA (’04). His teams were very successful, advancing to their first ever CIF Southern Section championship game in 2008 (after beating #1 seed Maranatha by 17 pts), finishing the season as CIF Div IV Runner-Up and CIF Southern Section Coach of the Year. His coaching resume also includes stints coaching at Vista Murrieta High School (Murrieta, CA) and Beaumont High School (Beaumont, CA).
As a player, Buck starred at then GSAC member Azusa Pacific University (’90-’94) where he was captain of the most dominating team in GSAC history (9 straight and 13 overall GSAC Conference Titles since ‘93). That team was the first to win 30 games in a single season, first NAIA National #1 Ranking in program history (3 weeks straight), first GSAC NAIA Tournament appearance in program history, averaged 98 points per game, and is still the only GSAC team ever to go undefeated (12-0) in conference play. Individually, Buck currently holds several records at Azusa Pacific University. In 1992, he led the nation in free throw percentage (NCAA and NAIA), shooting 93% (93-100) from the line, including a GSAC record 53 in a row. He also holds the most three point field goals made in a career record with 257. He is only one of two players (Caleb Gervin) from Azusa Pacific University to earn ALL GSAC honors three years (’92, ’93, ‘94). Coach Day finished his career at APU as top five in scoring and assists, averaging 14.5 points and nearly 5 assists per game.
“I have been blessed to be surrounded by talented players and coaches my entire life, and working here at ACU with Coach Rutter and his staff is no different. I have known Coach Rutter for over 15 years and believe he is one of the brightest basketball minds in all of coaching. He is a Godly man that leads by example on and off the court, and is a great role model for all our athletes. I am honored to be given the opportunity to return to coaching in the GSAC, especially at an institution as accomplished as ACU.”
Scott and his wife Dr. Kristine Day have been married for over 10 years and reside in Peoria (Vistancia) with their 7 year old daughter Sydney. He earned his undergraduate degree (Psychology) and two master’s degrees (College Student Affairs and School Counseling) from Azusa Pacific University.
