Southeast Missouri State women's basketball coach hires two assistants

New Southeast Missouri women's basketball coach Ty Margenthaler hired assistants Ben Coomes and Heather Ezell on Thursday to fill the final two spots on his staff.

Coomes and Ezell join Dionnah Jackson, who was an assistant at Southeast last season.

"I think everyone is energetic and excited to hit the ground running," Margenthaler said in a news release. "I know Ben, Heather and Dionnah are on board with my vision to take this program to the next level."

Coomes, a native of Evansville, Ind., will be the Redhawks' recruiting coordinator and guards coach. He comes to Southeast after serving as the women's basketball video coordinator at Purdue the last two years.

Coomes was an assistant at both Belmont University (2007-08) and Lambuth (2006-07). He also was the director of basketball operations at Evansville (2004-06).

"Ben's recruiting ties to the Midwest and South will be beneficial to our program," Margenthaler said.

Coomes graduated with a bachelor's degree in sport communications from Indiana in 2004. He worked as a student manager for the women's basketball program all four years at Indiana and worked two seasons as the head manager.

Ezell, from Springfield, Mo., will coach the perimeter and assist with recruiting. She was voted 2005 Miss Show-Me Basketball after compiling two state championships, four district titles and a 113-7 record in her four-year career at Kickapoo High School.

"It's great to bring in a Missouri native," Margenthaler said. "Heather is well-respected and had a decorated playing career before she started coaching last season."

Ezell completed her first year as a full-time assistant last season at Fairfield University, where she assisted with the day-to-day operations of the program and worked with the Stags' perimeter players.

Ezell played overseas for the Haukar team of the Iceland Express League in 2009-10 and led her conference in points.

Ezell graduated with degrees in management and marketing from Iowa State in 2009. A four-year letter winner, she tied the Cyclones' career record with 287 3-point field goals and ranked 10th in school history with 1,339 points. Ezell was All-Big 12 second team as a senior.