Rick Karr Named Women's Basketball Assistant :: B.J. Smith's former assistant follows him to Southeast Missouri.

April 5, 2002

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - When the Southeast Missouri State Otahkian basketball team hits the court next season, first year head coach B.J. Smith will have a familiar face on the bench next to him. Former Northeastern A&M assistant Rick Karr has been hired as the main assistant coach for the Otahkian program.

Karr served as Smith's assistant from 1999-2002 for the Northeastern A&M 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.

"Rick brings continuity to the program," Smith said. "He is great with international recruiting and a great skills coach. He has worked with people at all levels. Most importantly, I know his level of commitment and it is in tune with mine. Hopefully this will allow us to make a quick transition."

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 combined. That achievement garnered Karr Region 2 Coach of the Year honors.

Prior to Northeastern A&M, 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., the same school as Smith, and earned a masters in education from Phillips University in Enid, Okla.

Karr's main responsibilities with the Otahkians include international and junior college recruiting.

Karr is single.

Smith also announced assistant coach Lisa Pace will return to Southeast Missouri for her third season on the bench and Tameka Randle will return for her second season. Pace will serve as the main high school recruiter for the Otahkians.