Northwest Missouri hires ESU assistant McCollum as new coach
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Emporia State assistant basketball coach Ben McCollum has accepted the head coaching job at Northwest Missouri and will be replaced by ESU graduate assistant Wes Book.
McCollum returns to Northwest Missouri after four seasons at Emporia State. He played two seasons for the Bearcats and then spent two years as a graduate assistant at Northwest before joining ESU coach David Moe’s staff.
“Anytime you can get a head coaching job at my age in this conference, it’s unbelievable,” McCollum said. “It’ll be a dream come true and it’s come true early.”
Book played for Moe from 2004 to 2008 and last season was his first as a graduate assistant. Book had a successful playing career, finishing his career as the 12th-leading scorer at Emporia State. Moe’s relationship with Book started when he first arrived at Emporia State from Colorado and started recruiting the Emporia High graduate.
“Wes knows me as well as anybody and has been here as long as anybody,” Moe said. “His understanding of how I want to do things and how things operate around here make it by far the best transition I’ve had.”
During the past year, Book has been responsible for the team’s travel arrangements, opponent scouting, assisting with recruiting, video breakdown and on-the-floor coaching.
Book said his relationship with the current players, some of whom are his former teammates, should make for an easy transition.
“I think he’s going to do a great job,” ESU junior guard Lamar Wilbern said. “He knows what he’s talking about. He can relate with what Moe’s trying to say, especially just playing a year ago. It’ll be easier to transition because he can get that point across to us as well as implement things that other coaches don’t see because they haven’t played for so long.”
Emporia State finished 18-10 last season and finished third in the MIAA. The Hornets return their top six scorers and Book expects big things in his first year as a full-time assistant.
“I’m really excited,” Book said. “At this point in my career, it’s a really good opportunity for me. I thank Coach Moe for that. Obviously I’m coming in to work with a lot of good guys, a lot of great guys that will make my job a lot easier. It’s exciting to work with all those guys coming back, knowing that opportunity to be good.”
McCollum takes over for Steve Tappmeyer, who retired March 16 after 21 seasons at Northwest Missouri. Tappmeyer is Northwest Missouri’s all-time winningest coach and coached the Bearcats to eight of the last 10 NCAA tournaments.
McCollum, who played and coached under Tappmeyer, said he could not pass up a chance to return to his alma mater.
Book becomes the fourth top assistant Moe has had since coming to Emporia State in 2001. Jeff Linder, his first assistant, is an assistant coach at the University of San Francisco, and McCollum’s predecessor, Lucas Rae, left coaching to take a job in business.
“My job is to prepare the assistants here to be able to be a head coach and go somewhere else and be successful,” Moe said. “I’ve had a pretty good track record, and Ben was great at doing that. I’m excited for him and I’m excited for Wes to be able to step in and follow Ben and the other guys’ lead.”
esu4life (anonymous) says...
As one who has got to know both men over the past 5 years I know they have nothing but success in their futures. These are two fine young men. I wish them nothing but the best in their new opportunities. The Hoosier
March 31, 2009 at 9:40 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )