University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Lady Eagle Basketball Announces Bud Childers As Associate Head Coach
8/20/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Lady Eagle Basketball Announces Bud Childers As Associate Head Coach
HATTIESBURG, Miss. ? Southern Miss Women?s Basketball Coach Rick Reeves has announced the hiring of Bud Childers as the Associate Head Women?s Basketball Coach at The University of Southern Mississippi. He replaces Lee Buchanan, who left to become the Head Women's Basketball Coach at the University of Missouri - St. Louis in early August.
"I'm really excited that Bud has decided to join our program," Reeves said. "He brings years of successful coaching, teaching and recruiting experience at Murray State, Louisville and James Madison and is a good fit for our program. He is a welcome member of our staff and will be a great addition as we aim to take our program to the next level.
"I was very happy with my staff this past year, and it makes you proud as a head coach when one of your assistants is given the chance to continue their career as a head coach. I hated to lose Lee, but it was a great opportunity for him and his family, and I wish him the best. I am looking forward to getting started this season."
Childers comes to Southern Miss after a successful six-year stint at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Va. While at JMU, he compiled an 87-65 record, advanced to the WNIT final four in 2001 and ended Old Dominion?s 113-game Colonial Athletic Association win streak. He was named CAA Coach of the Year in 2000 and received the Virginia State SID Coach of the Year honor for the 2000-01 season.
"I'm thrilled to be coming to Hattiesburg, Miss., and not only be a part of the Southern Miss women's basketball program, but also a member of the Southern Miss community," Childers said. "Rick and I have been great friends for over 20 years, and I look forward to not only working with him, but being a part of the Golden Eagle women's basketball program."
Prior to JMU, Childers spent eight seasons as head coach at the University of Louisville, where he compiled a 152-88 record, the winningest coach to date. His 1989-90 team had the second largest turnaround in women?s college basketball. The 1990-91 team won 24 games and received a bid to the WNIT. He had two teams win regular season conference championships, 1991-92 (Metro Conference) and 1996-97 (Conference USA). Three of his teams received NCAA Tournament bids, with his 1992-93 and 1994-95 teams advancing to the second round and he was named the Conference USA Coach of the Year in 1996-97.
Prior to Louisville, Childers spent five seasons at Murray State University, compiling an 82-63 record and earning an NWIT bid in 1988-89, following a 22-win season. He also had coaching stints at University of Montevallo and Cumberland College.
Childers received his bachelor?s degree from Charleston Southern in business administration in 1979 and received his masters? from Middle Tennessee State in 1983.
He is married to the former Judy Dolezal. The couple has two sons, Brett (25) and Brad (18).
