Post by aggierattler on Nov 18, 2011 10:30:59 GMT -5
OSU's Kurt Budke, assistant killed in plane crash
By BILL HAISTEN and KELLY HINES World Sports Writers
Published: 11/18/2011 8:05 AM
Last Modified: 11/18/2011 8:28 AM
A university official confirmed that Oklahoma State women’s basketball coach Kurt Budke and an assistant, Miranda Serna, were killed in a small-plane crash that occurred on Thursday.
During a recruiting trip, their plane went down in central Arkansas, university spokesman Gary Shutt said.
The pilot and one additional passenger – neither of whom was affiliated with OSU – also were killed, Shutt said.
A 50-year-old native of Salina, Kan., Budke had been the Cowgirl coach since 2005. Serna, a New Mexico native, had been a Budke assistant for seven seasons. They previously worked together on the Louisiana Tech staff.
The Cowgirls were scheduled to play a pair of weekend games – hosting Grambling State on Saturday and Texas-Arlington on Sunday – but both have been canceled.
In a statement released by OSU, university President Burns Hargis was quoted as saying, “The Oklahoma State family is devastated by this tragedy. Our hearts and prayers go out to the families of Kurt Budke, Miranda Serna and the other victims.
“Kurt was an exemplary leader and a man of character who had a profound impact on his student-athletes. He was an outstanding coach and a wonderful person. We send our deepest sympathies to his wife, Shelley, and their children, Sara, Alex and Brett.”
Earlier this year, Oklahoma State commemorated the 10th anniversary of the January 2001 plane crash that killed 10 members of the university’s men’s basketball travel party. After a game at Colorado, one of the Cowboys’ team planes crashed near Byers, Colo.
On Friday morning, OSU athletic director Mike Holder said Jim Littell, associate head coach of the OSU women’s team, has been designated the interim head coach. Shutt said OSU counselors and athletic staff are offering assistance to the Cowgirl players and staff.
“We are shocked by this terrible loss,” Holder said. “Kurt Budke was an incredibly positive influence on his players and was a tremendous coach. He quickly turned our program around and put Cowgirl basketball on the map. Miranda was a tireless worker and great recruiter.”
In his seventh season as the Cowgirl coach, Budke had a record of 112-83. The 2011-12 Cowgirls opened their season last week with a victory over Rice. With Budke as the coach, the OSU women made three NCAA Tournament appearances. In 2008, the Cowgirls surged to the Sweet Sixteen.
Before accepting the OSU job in 2005, Budke was a highly successful coach at the junior-college level and at Louisiana Tech. While at Trinity Valley (Texas) Community College, he was the national junior-college coach of the year in 1995 and 1998. In three seasons as the Louisiana Tech coach, his record was 80-16.
Serna, a New Mexico native who played for Budke at Trinity Valley Community College, was Oklahoma State’s recruiting coordinator.
By BILL HAISTEN and KELLY HINES World Sports Writers
Copyright 2011 World Publishing Co.
Read more from this Tulsa World article at www.tulsaworld.com/sportsextra/article.aspx?subjectid=234&articleid=20111118_234_0_Aunive379629
By BILL HAISTEN and KELLY HINES World Sports Writers
Published: 11/18/2011 8:05 AM
Last Modified: 11/18/2011 8:28 AM
A university official confirmed that Oklahoma State women’s basketball coach Kurt Budke and an assistant, Miranda Serna, were killed in a small-plane crash that occurred on Thursday.
During a recruiting trip, their plane went down in central Arkansas, university spokesman Gary Shutt said.
The pilot and one additional passenger – neither of whom was affiliated with OSU – also were killed, Shutt said.
A 50-year-old native of Salina, Kan., Budke had been the Cowgirl coach since 2005. Serna, a New Mexico native, had been a Budke assistant for seven seasons. They previously worked together on the Louisiana Tech staff.
The Cowgirls were scheduled to play a pair of weekend games – hosting Grambling State on Saturday and Texas-Arlington on Sunday – but both have been canceled.
In a statement released by OSU, university President Burns Hargis was quoted as saying, “The Oklahoma State family is devastated by this tragedy. Our hearts and prayers go out to the families of Kurt Budke, Miranda Serna and the other victims.
“Kurt was an exemplary leader and a man of character who had a profound impact on his student-athletes. He was an outstanding coach and a wonderful person. We send our deepest sympathies to his wife, Shelley, and their children, Sara, Alex and Brett.”
Earlier this year, Oklahoma State commemorated the 10th anniversary of the January 2001 plane crash that killed 10 members of the university’s men’s basketball travel party. After a game at Colorado, one of the Cowboys’ team planes crashed near Byers, Colo.
On Friday morning, OSU athletic director Mike Holder said Jim Littell, associate head coach of the OSU women’s team, has been designated the interim head coach. Shutt said OSU counselors and athletic staff are offering assistance to the Cowgirl players and staff.
“We are shocked by this terrible loss,” Holder said. “Kurt Budke was an incredibly positive influence on his players and was a tremendous coach. He quickly turned our program around and put Cowgirl basketball on the map. Miranda was a tireless worker and great recruiter.”
In his seventh season as the Cowgirl coach, Budke had a record of 112-83. The 2011-12 Cowgirls opened their season last week with a victory over Rice. With Budke as the coach, the OSU women made three NCAA Tournament appearances. In 2008, the Cowgirls surged to the Sweet Sixteen.
Before accepting the OSU job in 2005, Budke was a highly successful coach at the junior-college level and at Louisiana Tech. While at Trinity Valley (Texas) Community College, he was the national junior-college coach of the year in 1995 and 1998. In three seasons as the Louisiana Tech coach, his record was 80-16.
Serna, a New Mexico native who played for Budke at Trinity Valley Community College, was Oklahoma State’s recruiting coordinator.
By BILL HAISTEN and KELLY HINES World Sports Writers
Copyright 2011 World Publishing Co.
Read more from this Tulsa World article at www.tulsaworld.com/sportsextra/article.aspx?subjectid=234&articleid=20111118_234_0_Aunive379629
