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Rider head coach Kevin Baggett announces completion of coaching staff

baggett

As announced by Rider University, first-year head coach Kevin Baggett made three hires to complete his coaching staff for the 2012-12 campaign.

Joining now associate head coach Mike Witcoskie (promoted in May) as assistants are Louis Rowe and Michael Cotton, and John Griffin comes on board as the director of basketball operations.

Rowe, who played professionally overseas following his career at James Madison (two seasons there after playing his first two at Florida), arrives in Lawrenceville after spending four seasons as an assistant at his alma mater.

“I’m excited to have Coach Rowe join our staff,” said Baggett in a statement released by the school. “Louis is a guy with great character that possesses the will and desire to win.

“His knowledge of the game and experience are two of his many resourceful credentials and he’s already had proven success in his collegiate and professional careers both on and off the court. I am really looking forward to working with Louis.”

Cotton and Griffin both have a connection to Bucknell, where Cotton was an assistant for four seasons and Griffin a member of two NCAA tournament teams as a player.

“We are fortunate to have Coach Cotton join our program as he has a passion and energy for the game that will help elevate us to new levels,” said Baggett in the same statement.

“A competitive spirit combined with a formula for academic success is what Mike brings to our staff and I am eager to work with him.”

Griffin, who played four seasons in England after graduating from Bucknell in 2008, was video coordinator for the Indiana Pacers last season.

The fact that all three have collegiate and professional playing experience wasn’t lost on Baggett, who feels that the Broncs can learn from the assistants’ experiences overseas.

“I don’t think we have anybody on our team that is an NBA player at this point, but we have some guys that can play overseas and make a good living out of it,” Baggett said.

“What was important with my staff and putting them together was getting guys with overseas experience and having our guys be able to relate to them.

“I want our guys to be able to pick their brains everyday about how they got to where they’re at. It was important to surround myself with guys like that.”


The Broncs have to account for the loss of Novar Gadson and Jeff Jones, but Danny Stewart leads the returnees up front and St. John’s transfer Nurideen Lindsey will help matters on the perimeter in 2012-13.

Photo credit: Jackie Schear/The Trentonian

Raphielle is also the assistant editor at CollegeHoops.net and can be followed on Twitter at @raphiellej.