Head Men's Basketball Coach

The men’s basketball team didn’t have to look far to find its next head coach as former Tiger assistant Brian Jackson was picked out of a group of 75 applicants. Jackson, who has spent the past five years as an assistant coach at Cowley, is looking forward to the opportunity to lead the Tiger basketball program. “Any time you get your first head coaching job, you have to thank the people that gave you the opportunity,” Jackson said. “So, I want to thank (Cowley president) Dr. Pat (McAtee), coach (Athletic Director Tom) Saia, and everybody involved with allowing me to have a chance to get my foot in the door.”

Cowley assembled a committee to help select the next head coach after Randy Smithson resigned on March 28 after four years on the job. The committee conducted interviews with four candidates and then narrowed its choice to two. Saia, who was the football coach at Butler County when Jackson played basketball at the school, felt strongly that Jackson was the right person for the job. “I have known this young man since he was 18 years old,” Saia said. “I have seen him as a player and as a coach. I have been high on him for a long time.”

Summer 2005