Oklahoma State University Athletics
Ford Announces Cowboy Basketball Coaching Staff Hires
May 15, 2008 | Cowboy Basketball
STILLWATER, Okla. — Oklahoma State head coach Travis Ford has added three assistant coaches and an administrator to the Cowboy coaching staff, he announced today.
Joining Ford's staff in Stillwater are Butch Pierre, who comes to OSU from Louisiana State; Chris Ferguson, who remains on the Cowboys' staff; and Steve Middleton, who joins the OSU staff after spending the last three seasons under Ford at Massachusetts. Ford has also retained Joseph Biggs, who serves as OSU's assistant athletic director for basketball.
“I'm excited about the staff we've put together,” said Ford, adding that he will look to fill several more positions on his staff over the next few weeks. “It's a staff that has a lot of strengths in a lot of different areas. These guys will be able to develop student-athletes on-and-off the court, as well as develop great recruiting relationships.
“Most importantly, they are all great family guys, and they are not afraid to work extremely hard to make OSU basketball better.”
Pierre spent the last 11 seasons at LSU. He was named the Tigers' associate head coach in 2002 and served as the Tigers' interim head coach for the final 10 games of the 2007-08 season.
“I was really impressed with the great job he did leading that team as the interim head coach during a difficult period last season,” Ford said.
During his tenure at LSU, Pierre helped lead the Tigers to five postseason appearances, including a berth in the 2006 Final Four, as well as Southeastern Conference titles in 2000 and 2006. He also coached five players that went on to play in the NBA.
Known as a top recruiter, Pierre helped LSU land four McDonald's All-Americans, nine Parade All-Americans, six junior college All-Americans and two players who earned JUCO player of the year honors.
The 45-year old Pierre has also had assistant coaching stints at Charlotte, Louisiana-Lafayette and Kentucky State.
“(Pierre) has an incredible amount of experience, and he has a great reputation as a tireless worker in recruiting,” Ford said. “He has established many great relationships across the country, and he's a proven coach who is a mentor to his players and makes them better, not just on, but off the court as well.
“He's had two No. 1 recruiting classes, and he has coached in a Final Four so he's going to be a great asset for us.”
In Ferguson, the Cowboys retain an assistant who just completed his first season at OSU. A coaching veteran of more than 20 years, Ferguson has previously served as an assistant at East Carolina and Tennessee, also serving as an associate head coach at both schools, as well as Virginia Tech, Appalachian State and UNC-Asheville.
In his eight seasons at Tennessee, Ferguson helped lead the Vols to six-consecutive postseason appearances, including four-straight NCAA Tournament appearances (1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001). UT advanced to the second round in 1999 before earning a Sweet 16 berth the following season.
In all, Tennessee captured two SEC Eastern Division titles and one overall SEC championship during his stay.
“I'm excited that (Ferguson) is staying on,” Ford said. “He brings a lot of knowledge about this area and our team, and he has a great reputation as a person and a coach.
“He has great relationships with and respect from his players, and I've seen that really quickly in the time that I've been here.”
Middleton has been an assistant on Ford's staffs at both UMass and Eastern Kentucky. Known for his outstanding work with post players, Middleton helped lead EKU to a school-record 22 wins and an NCAA Tournament berth in 2005.
At UMass, Middleton was part of a staff that led the Minutemen to the Atlantic 10 regular season title two years ago and to the N.I.T. title game last season.
“(Middleton has) been with me for the past six years, and he understands my system and what I look for in student-athletes,” Ford said. “He's great in recruiting, coaching and developing players, and he takes great pride in mentoring players on and off the court.”
Biggs has served two seasons as OSU's assistant athletic director for basketball. He oversees travel, budget, scheduling, special events and all other administrative and operational functions of the Cowboy Basketball program.
“Joey has been an incredible asset to me these first three weeks, and I've really been impressed with his commitment and dedication to OSU basketball,” Ford said. “He has great knowledge of our program and this university.”
Oklahoma State Cowboy Basketball Assistant Coach Quotes
Butch Pierre
“Coach Ford is one of the best young basketball minds in the business, and he's got a lot of great ideas,” Pierre said. “I'm looking forward to joining his staff and doing something very special at Oklahoma State University. I'm very excited about becoming a part of the OSU basketball family, and I'm ready for the challenges of competing in a conference that has a lot of rich tradition like the Big 12.
“I understand what OSU basketball stands for and the rich tradition and history they have there is among the best in country. This is a great opportunity for me and my family, and we're just excited to join the OSU Cowboy family.”
Steve Middleton
“I really like Stillwater and am excited about the opportunity presented by OSU basketball,” Middleton said. “I'm excited about the possibilities of becoming an elite program, and I'm ready to work to achieve that.”
Joseph Biggs
“I'm excited to remain here, and I look forward to working with Coach Ford and the staff and being a part of Cowboy basketball,” Biggs said.
Chris Ferguson
“We're ready to work hard and get prepared for the upcoming season,” Ferguson said. “This is a great staff with a great group of guys to work with. We're ready for the challenges and ready to bring excitement to the Cowboy basketball nation.”
Joining Ford's staff in Stillwater are Butch Pierre, who comes to OSU from Louisiana State; Chris Ferguson, who remains on the Cowboys' staff; and Steve Middleton, who joins the OSU staff after spending the last three seasons under Ford at Massachusetts. Ford has also retained Joseph Biggs, who serves as OSU's assistant athletic director for basketball.
“I'm excited about the staff we've put together,” said Ford, adding that he will look to fill several more positions on his staff over the next few weeks. “It's a staff that has a lot of strengths in a lot of different areas. These guys will be able to develop student-athletes on-and-off the court, as well as develop great recruiting relationships.
“Most importantly, they are all great family guys, and they are not afraid to work extremely hard to make OSU basketball better.”
Pierre spent the last 11 seasons at LSU. He was named the Tigers' associate head coach in 2002 and served as the Tigers' interim head coach for the final 10 games of the 2007-08 season.
“I was really impressed with the great job he did leading that team as the interim head coach during a difficult period last season,” Ford said.
During his tenure at LSU, Pierre helped lead the Tigers to five postseason appearances, including a berth in the 2006 Final Four, as well as Southeastern Conference titles in 2000 and 2006. He also coached five players that went on to play in the NBA.
Known as a top recruiter, Pierre helped LSU land four McDonald's All-Americans, nine Parade All-Americans, six junior college All-Americans and two players who earned JUCO player of the year honors.
The 45-year old Pierre has also had assistant coaching stints at Charlotte, Louisiana-Lafayette and Kentucky State.
“(Pierre) has an incredible amount of experience, and he has a great reputation as a tireless worker in recruiting,” Ford said. “He has established many great relationships across the country, and he's a proven coach who is a mentor to his players and makes them better, not just on, but off the court as well.
“He's had two No. 1 recruiting classes, and he has coached in a Final Four so he's going to be a great asset for us.”
In Ferguson, the Cowboys retain an assistant who just completed his first season at OSU. A coaching veteran of more than 20 years, Ferguson has previously served as an assistant at East Carolina and Tennessee, also serving as an associate head coach at both schools, as well as Virginia Tech, Appalachian State and UNC-Asheville.
In his eight seasons at Tennessee, Ferguson helped lead the Vols to six-consecutive postseason appearances, including four-straight NCAA Tournament appearances (1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001). UT advanced to the second round in 1999 before earning a Sweet 16 berth the following season.
In all, Tennessee captured two SEC Eastern Division titles and one overall SEC championship during his stay.
“I'm excited that (Ferguson) is staying on,” Ford said. “He brings a lot of knowledge about this area and our team, and he has a great reputation as a person and a coach.
“He has great relationships with and respect from his players, and I've seen that really quickly in the time that I've been here.”
Middleton has been an assistant on Ford's staffs at both UMass and Eastern Kentucky. Known for his outstanding work with post players, Middleton helped lead EKU to a school-record 22 wins and an NCAA Tournament berth in 2005.
At UMass, Middleton was part of a staff that led the Minutemen to the Atlantic 10 regular season title two years ago and to the N.I.T. title game last season.
“(Middleton has) been with me for the past six years, and he understands my system and what I look for in student-athletes,” Ford said. “He's great in recruiting, coaching and developing players, and he takes great pride in mentoring players on and off the court.”
Biggs has served two seasons as OSU's assistant athletic director for basketball. He oversees travel, budget, scheduling, special events and all other administrative and operational functions of the Cowboy Basketball program.
“Joey has been an incredible asset to me these first three weeks, and I've really been impressed with his commitment and dedication to OSU basketball,” Ford said. “He has great knowledge of our program and this university.”
Oklahoma State Cowboy Basketball Assistant Coach Quotes
Butch Pierre
“Coach Ford is one of the best young basketball minds in the business, and he's got a lot of great ideas,” Pierre said. “I'm looking forward to joining his staff and doing something very special at Oklahoma State University. I'm very excited about becoming a part of the OSU basketball family, and I'm ready for the challenges of competing in a conference that has a lot of rich tradition like the Big 12.
“I understand what OSU basketball stands for and the rich tradition and history they have there is among the best in country. This is a great opportunity for me and my family, and we're just excited to join the OSU Cowboy family.”
Steve Middleton
“I really like Stillwater and am excited about the opportunity presented by OSU basketball,” Middleton said. “I'm excited about the possibilities of becoming an elite program, and I'm ready to work to achieve that.”
Joseph Biggs
“I'm excited to remain here, and I look forward to working with Coach Ford and the staff and being a part of Cowboy basketball,” Biggs said.
Chris Ferguson
“We're ready to work hard and get prepared for the upcoming season,” Ferguson said. “This is a great staff with a great group of guys to work with. We're ready for the challenges and ready to bring excitement to the Cowboy basketball nation.”
Tuesday, July 07
Tuesday, July 07
Friday, June 05
Friday, May 29
