Twenty-one years ago, when Mark Arthur first arrived on the campus of Southwestern Christian University, something was missing at what was then the small, private, bible college. The spring of 1991 did not bring a basketball playoff bracket, a nationally competitive track and field team, or the sound of the metal ‘ting' from bats cracking in the distance. In the spring of 1991, Southwestern Christian University did not field any intercollegiate athletic programs.

It wasn't always that way, though, as Mark Arthur had himself playing for SCU - then known as Oklahoma City Southwestern College - from 1978-1980. The program was shut down in 1982. While at OCSC, Arthur earned his Associate of Arts Degree before going on to transfer to the University of Central Oklahoma where he earned both his Bachelor's and Master's Degrees in Education.  

Returning to SCU in 1991 as the Financial Aid Director, Arthur immediately began to look at the possibility of re-launching the men's basketball team. Arthur knew that bringing back intercollegiate athletics would build school spirit and give the institution more programs and an edge in recruiting.

In the Fall of 1992, the men's basketball program was re-birthed and Mark Arthur was named as head coach.

Two decades later, the Department of Athletics has grown to 16 sports with over 250 student/athletes competing in both the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA).

At the close of the 2011-2012 men's basketball season, Coach Arthur announced his retirement after 20 years at the helm of the men's basketball program, electing instead to serve as full-time athletic director of the budding NAIA program.

While leading the SCU men's basketball program, Coach Arthur compiled an overall record of 404-329. In his 20 years as head coach, Arthur acquired a decorative collection of achievements, including eight national titles - four from the NCCAA and four from the ACCA. In 2006, Arthur was deservingly recognized as the NCCAA National Basketball Coach of the Year. Throughout his tenure, he has been named Region Coach of the Year seven times and has had the privilege of coaching 12 All-Americans, 28 Academic All-Americans, and one Pete Maravich National Player of the Year.

In 2008, Arthur's career was highlighted with a capstone moment in the naming of the ‘Mark Arthur Court' at the Pickens-Springer Gymnasium.

In the spring of 2012, Mark Arthur felt like the SCU Department of Athletics had grown to a point that in order to be successful, it was going to need a full-time athletic director. Arthur saw this as a new challenge and accepted the position, stating "in life we need new challenges to keep us motivated, and I look forward to this new challenge."