Head coach B.J. Smith will have a familiar face on the bench next to him this season. Former Northeastern Oklahoma A&M assistant Rick Karr will be Smith's top assistant for the program.
Karr served as Smith's assistant from 1999-2002 for the NEO Lady Norse team that had a combined 98-7 record and finished as National Runners-Up this past season. Karr's responsibilities with the Lady Norse included recruiting coordinator for the state of Oklahoma and also recruiting internationally.
Coach Karr is great with international recruiting and an excellent skills coach. He has worked with people at all levels including some players in the WNBA.
Karr also served as the head volleyball coach at NEO for the 2000-01 season. Karr was hired 30 days prior to the start of the season and was able to guide a team that had finished 0-28 a season before to a 35-5 record and a 11th place finish in the NJCAA National Tournament. The 35 wins on the season were more wins than the program had accumulated in its history. That achievement garnered Karr Region II Coach of the Year honors.
Prior to NEO, Karr also served as an assistant women's basketball at North Arkansas College in Harrison, Ark. in 1998-99 and at Phillips University as assistant varsity and head junior varsity coach from 1996-98. Also at Phillips, Karr served as assistant track and field coach from 1997-98
From 1992-96, Karr also coached alongside Smith, this time at their alma mater. Karr was the recruiting coordinator and assistant men's basketball coach at Southwestern College where he helped to sign the school's top two all-time leading scorers.
Karr is a 1988 graduate of Southwestern College in Winfield, Kan. and earned a Master's Degree in education from Phillips University in Enid, Okla.
Karr's main responsibilities with the Otahkians include international and junior college recruiting. Karr is single.
Education
Masters in Education, Phillips University (Enid, Okla.)
B.A. Business - Philosophy, Southwestern College (Winfield, Kan.)
Professional Experience
1999-2002 - Assistant Women's Basketball Coach, Northeastern Oklahoma A&M (Miami, Okla.)
- Team was a combined 98-7 in three seasons
- National NJCAA Runners-up in 2002
- Recruiting Coordinator for state of Oklahoma and Internationally
- Responsible for player skill development
2000-01 - Head Volleyball Coach, Northeastern Oklahoma A&M
- Finished season with 35-5 record after team had finished 0-28 the year before he started
- The 35 wins were more than the program had won ever, combined
- 11th place finish at NJCAA National Tournament
- Region 2 Coach of the Year
- Undefeated in Region 2 and Bi-State Conference Champions for the first time in school history
1998-99 - Assistant Women's Basketball Coach, North Arkansas College (Harrison, Ark.)
- Recruiting Coordinator
- Ranked in Top 25 of NJCAA National Polls
- Coached three Academic All-Americans
1996-98 - Assistant Varsity and Head Junior Varsity Women's Basketball Coach, Phillips University (Enid, Okla.)
1997-98 - Assistant Track & Field/Cross Country Coach, Phillips University
1996-98 - Director of Star of Tomorrow, Girls Basketball Player Development Program (Arkansas City, Kan.)
1992-96 - Assistant Men's Basketball Coach, Southwestern College (Winfield, Kan.)
