OKLAHOMA CITY (Sept. 27, 2019) – For the first time in almost two decades, an iconic part of Oklahoma Christian's basketball gameday experience is changing leaders.

Heath Jones, who joined the OC faculty in 2000 and took over leadership of the Sweat Band – an offshoot of the OC Jazz Ensemble which performs at most of the university's basketball games – is handing over his baton after 19 years and more than 300 games.

The Sweat Band's new director will be another OC alumnus, Scott Filleman, who joined the university's faculty this fall as an assistant professor of music and the director of instrumental ensembles. Both Jones and Filleman once played in the Sweat Band as students.

In addition to his duties as a professor music and the chairman of OC's Department of Music, Jones, an accomplished saxophone artist, is an active professional performer in the Oklahoma City area. His career has included performances with (among others) the Oklahoma City Philharmonic, the Temptations, the Four Tops, Frankie Avalon, Jim Nabors and Leslie Gore.

Jones said it is bittersweet to give up his role with the Sweat Band and he's thoroughly enjoyed entertaining thousands of OC basketball fans through the years. He said he's particularly appreciated his friendship with longtime OC men's head coach Dan Hays, who is re-joining the program this season as a volunteer assistant coach.

"I have always looked up to Coach Hays," Jones said. "When I was a student I worked in the gym. It was my job to put a shine on the court. Hays would tell me that I shined the floor better than anyone. That made chipping nacho cheese off the floor worth it.

"Hays always asked me to play Motown music. Later I was able to take Hays with me to a Temptations gig I played on. It has been an honor over the years supporting the Eagles but it is time to pass the torch to Scott Filleman."

Filleman graduated from OC in 2005 with a degree in music education. Before coming to OC, he worked at an elementary school in Arizona and for two metro-area schools, Santa Fe South Middle School and Oklahoma Christian Academy.

"As a former member of the Sweat Band under Dr. Jones' direction, I speak confidently when I say that our Sweat Band is proud to be part of OC Athletics and it's an honor to be handed the baton by the great directors with whom I am now colleagues," Filleman said.

"University bands around this great country have a rich history of supporting pride in our campus, its spirit and involvement. I'm very excited to be here, at OC, where we get to experience that history while reaching forward to grasp future innovations in what I'm sure will become powerful partnerships between OC Athletics and OC Music."