Smith fills out Otahk staff, keeps 2 assistants

New Southeast Missouri State University women's basketball coach B.J. Smith has filled out his staff for next season with the addition of a familiar face to him and the retention of two familiar faces to Otahkian followers.

Smith, who was hired to replace the retired Ed Arnzen on March 25, announced Friday that Rick Karr will be his top assistant coach with the Otahkians.

In addition, Smith said that Lisa Pace and Tameka Randle will return as assistant coaches. Pace served under Arnzen the past two seasons while Randle assisted Arnzen for one season. Alan Eads, Arnzen's top assistant the past eight seasons, will not return.

Karr was Smith's assistant at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College the past three seasons and the pair combined to lead the Lady Norse to a 98-7 record, including a second-place finish in this year's junior college national tournament. Karr's responsibilities with the Lady Norse included recruiting coordinator for the state of Oklahoma and also recruiting internationally.

"Rick brings continuity to the program," Smith said. "He is great with international recruiting and he's a phenomenal skills teacher. Most importantly, I know his level of commitment and it is in tune with mine. Hopefully this will allow us to make a quick transition."

Prior to Northeastern A&M, Karr also served under Smith as an assistant coach at North Arkansas College in 1998-99. Karr and Smith also were assistant coaches together at Phillips University in Oklahoma from 1996-98.

From 1992-96, Karr also coached alongside Smith, this time at their alma mater, Southwestern College in Kansas. Karr is a 1988 Southwestern College graduate and he earned a masters in education from Phillips University. Among his main responsibilities with the Otahkians will be international and junior college recruiting.

"We coached together and went to school together," Smith said. "I feel really comfortable working with Rick."

As for Pace, who will serve as the Otahkians' main high school recruiter, and Randle, Smith said he's pleased that they will remain with the program.

"I feel I'm lucky to have them after being around them this week," Smith said. "They're both very diligent and hard workers."

Now that Smith has his staff lined up, the coaches can focus on the task of signing players. The spring signing period begins Wednesday and the Otahkians have eight available scholarships, not six as had been previously reported.

Prior to being hired at Southeast, Smith had said that several of his top players this year at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M were prepared to follow him to Cape Girardeau if he got the job.

Smith is prohibited by NCAA regulations from commenting specifically on recruits before they sign, but he said he believes recruiting is going well despite the late start. Of course, he'll have a better idea soon.

"We'll know a lot more starting Wednesday," he said.