Oklahoma State University Athletics
Back In The Saddle Again
October 03, 2012 | Cowgirl Basketball
Oct. 3, 2012
By Michael Minshew
With Wednesday marking the official start of practice for the Oklahoma State women's basketball team, it also signals the start of a second stint with the program for a familiar face.
Longtime coaching veteran and former Cowgirl assistant coach Jack Easley rejoined the staff in May as the program's director of player development.
Easley was an assistant coach with the Cowgirls for 19 years. During that time, OSU tallied seven 20-win seasons, made seven trips to the NCAA Tournament, had two WNIT appearances and captured three Big Eight titles.
This season will mark the 30th as a coach for Easley at the collegiate level, but his duties will differ from what he has done in the past.
"I'll be heavily involved in scouting opponents and scheduling," Easley said. "I can't be on the floor or do on-the-floor coaching, but I'll still find ways to impact the team."
A native of Kansas City, Mo., Easley began his coaching career at Slater (Mo.) High School before a stint at State Fair (Mo.) Community College.
Easley first joined the OSU staff in 1983 and served as an assistant coach for the program until 2002. He said the decision to leave the Cowgirls in 2002 was not an easy one.
"It was hard because Stillwater is such a great place to raise a family," Easley said. "We had a lot of great friends down here and we felt like the first coaching staff I was a part of here was the one that put the program on the map."
In 2002, Easley left OSU to be an assistant coach at Providence College. In 2003, he became an assistant coach at Iowa State and was elevated to associate head coach after two seasons with the Cyclones.
After nine years with Iowa State, Easley returned to Stillwater to serve in a different role. Even though he can't coach during games, he will still be an asset to the team.
"I think I bring a world of experience to the team," Easley said. "This is my 30th year in a Division I level position. You won't find too many coaches around with that kind of experience. So I'll find a way to share it with them."
Easley also said it helped to have coached in the same conference for most of his career.
"I know all of the teams in this conference," Easley said. "My teams have played against them. I've scouted against them and I've recruited against their coaches."
Easley said when head coach Jim Littell called about coming back to the Cowgirls, the decision was an easy one to make.
"I sat back and observed the way they handled things this past year and I thought Jim did a tremendous job," Easley said. "I thought the entire coaching staff stood tall under some really difficult circumstances. They pushed the team to be the best they could be and they won the WNIT."
"So as an observer watching that and factoring everything together I thought it was a no-brainer."
Easley was also complimentary of Littell.
"I have known Jim since his time at Seward County and have always had respect for him and the way he runs his program," Easley said. "To be able to return to a place that we called home for so many years and have the opportunity to be close to our family again is truly special."
He and his wife, Marla, have three sons; Sam, Lance and Zac, as well as three grandsons; Logan, Easton and Ty. Easley said they had plans to return to Stillwater when he finished his coaching career.
"We always thought that if even if I didn't get a job down here that this would be a great place to retire," Easley said. "It's a unique college town, where everything revolves around the university. It's a laid-back, friendly atmosphere and a great place to raise a family."
OSU will open its season on Nov. 9 when it hosts Cal Poly in Stillwater.
