University of Arkansas-Fort Smith assistant men’s basketball coach Ryan Price has been hired as assistant men’s basketball coach at NCAA Division I Southern University in Baton Rouge, La.
Price, a native of Roanoke, Va., also will serve as recruiting coordinator for the Jaguars, who compete in the Southwestern Athletic Conference. He joins the staff of newly-hired Jaguars head coach Roman Banks.
During his two seasons at UA Fort Smith, Price served as recruiting coordinator and coached guards for the Lions. In that span, UA Fort Smith compiled a 28-28 overall record and an 18-14 record against Heartland Conference opponents while competing as a provisional member of NCAA Division II both seasons.
“Ryan has done an outstanding job the past two years with our program,” UA Fort Smith coach Josh Newman said. “We are excited that he is going to be able to pursue his dream of being a Division I assistant coach. I know Ryan will do a great job at Southern.”
Price is the son of Tic Price, who previously was assistant coach at Lamar, North Texas State and head coach at McNeese State, Memphis and New Orleans.
He is a 2002 graduate of William Fleming High School, where he earned All-District and All-Region honors. He played three seasons at McNeese State before finishing his collegiate playing career at NCAA Division II Henderson State.
While at McNeese State, Price was named McNeese State’s Newcomer of the Year as a freshman and was a three-time Defensive Player of the Year for the Cowboys – a feat accomplished only once before in school history by NBA Hall of Famer and former Detroit Piston Joe Dumars.
During his only season at Henderson State, Price, who played guard, started 32 games and averaged eight points and 3.7 rebounds per game. He helped lead the Reddies to a 23-9 win-loss record, the Gulf South Conference West Division championship and the second round of the NCAA Division II tournament.
Price was a student assistant coach at Henderson State during the fall of 2007 while completing his bachelor’s degree in general studies before joining the coaching staff at NCAA Division II Gannon University in Erie, Pa.
During his two seasons at Gannon, Price helped guide the Golden Knights to a combined 56-9 win-loss record. The Golden Knights finished 30-4 during his final season, won the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference championship, won the Atlantic Region Championship and advanced to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Division II national tournament.
At Gannon, Price was in charge of recruiting, coaching post players and monitoring academics.
