OTTAWA, Kan. - Ottawa University is pleased to announce that Jay Kahnt has been named Director of Administrative Operations for its Ottawa, Kansas, campus. Kahnt assumed his new role on Tuesday, September 5, 2023. In addition to his duties of tracking budgets and overseeing daily operations for the campus, he will remain the head softball coach for the remainder of the 2023-24 academic year.
 
"I would like to thank former Coach Andy Carrier and former Athletic Director Arabie Conner for all their support and leadership over the last 20-plus years," said Kahnt. "They have been great mentors and have helped shape me as a coach and a person. With this being my last year of coaching, I am looking forward to transitioning to my new role on campus. There will be many things I miss about coaching, but I am excited to be able to spend more time with my family and especially my kids. I also want to thank Chancellor Bill, President Reggies and all the administration for this opportunity. I love working at Ottawa University and am excited for this new challenge."
 
Kahnt brings a wealth of knowledge and progressive leadership experience to his newly appointed position. After graduating from Ottawa University in 2000 with a degree in business administration, he went on to earn his master's degree in sports administration from the University of Kansas in 2002. Kahnt played in the Braves basketball program during the 1996-97 season and was a student assistant coach for the team from 1997-2000. At that time, he was hired full-time as the assistant coach for men's basketball. In 2002, he shifted to head coach of the softball team while continuing as assistant men's basketball coach. He also became an instructor in the physical education department. Finally, in 2006, Kahnt dropped basketball from his coaching roster to focus solely on the Braves softball program. Administratively, Kahnt was tapped in 2017 as the Assistant Director of Athletic Administration, which led to his current appointment.
 
"I look forward to working with Jay as he transitions to his new role over the next year," said Campus President Reggies Wenyika. "I am glad the University will continue benefiting from his student-centric outlook, modus operandum, and operational efficiency. Jay has been a stalwart supporter of the university and its mission for over two decades. I congratulate him on his pending retirement from leading one of our most successful programs and his foresight in flawlessly planning and executing succession planning."
 
Throughout his OU coaching career, Kahnt has amassed an impressive list of accomplishments:

• 24^-year coaching career at Ottawa University
• Began his 23rd season as head coach of the softball program
• Achieved an overall record of 577-404-1
• Became Ottawa's all-time winningest coach with a sweep of York University on April 9, 2016, surpassing OU men's basketball coach Andy Carrier's win total of 328
• Earned his 500th career coaching victory in OU's 3-1 victory over Milligan University at the 2021 NAIA World Series
• Named KCAC Coach of the Year 7 times
• Led the Braves to:
  • 7 KCAC regular season championships  
  • 2 KCAC Tournament championships
  • 5 NAIA Opening Round appearances
  • 4 NAIA World Series Appearances
• Coached:
  • 146 All-KCAC selections
  • 6 first team All-Region IV selections
  • 15 NFCA All-Region Selections
  • 2 KCAC Players of the Year
  • 4 KCAC Pitchers of the Year
  • 4 NAIA All-Americans
  • 2 KCAC Newcomers of the Year
  • 1 Region IV Player of the Year
  • 41 Daktronic Scholar Athletes
  • 5 CSC Academic All-District selections

After finishing out his coaching career at the end of the 2023-24 academic year, Kahnt will leave the softball team in the hands of Maile Deutsch, who serves as his assistant coach. Deutsch has been promoted to associate head softball coach and is scheduled to take the head coach position after the completion of the spring 2024 season. Deutsch is in her second year with the Braves.