Top assistants bring experience, positivity to Tigers basketball

When Josh Pastner was introduced as the Tigers head coach weeks ago, the one thing that stuck out about him was his positivity. With no insurance of what the future held, Pastner won over Memphians with his never-ending enthusiasm. His first two assistants, Willis Wilson and Glynn Cyprien, are no different.

"Both are energetic, hard workers, and they will give that extra effort to help this program be successful," Pastner said. "That's the kind of people I was looking for when I searched to find the right mix for this program."

They couldn't agree more.

"It's exciting to be here in Memphis," Wilson said Tuesday. "This is certainly a program with a great deal of tradition. I'm looking forward to the opportunity to help Coach Pastner move this thing and keep it going in the right direction."

Wilson, after spending years as a collegiate head coach, was the first hire that Pastner made.

"Willis brings years of collegiate coaching experience to the staff, and he knows the ins and outs of Conference-USA because he coached in the league," Pastner said.

Wilson served as head coach of the Rice Owl men's basketball team from 1993-2008, compiling a record of 219-246. His teams averaged 20 wins per season, which included births in the National Invitation Tournament in 2003-04 and 2004-05.

The Owls' 22 victories in 2003-04 tied for the third-most in school history for a single season, and was the program's most wins for a single season since the 1953-54 campaign (23-5). Following the season, Wilson was named the National Association of Basketball Coaches District 9 Coach of the Year, becoming the first Rice coach to do so since the award began in 1970.

As the first assistant on the newly-assembled staff, Wilson admitted it took some time getting adjusted.

"Coming in last week and being the first guy to get his feet on the ground in Memphis since Josh was hired was a little bit overwhelming," he said. "I can only imagine what it was like for him in the first 10 days or so."

After spending multiple years on the opposing bench, Wilson had some understanding of what the Tiger program was like.

"In my experience, at Rice, having played against The University of Memphis, understanding all of the positive attributes of this program really got me excited about being here," he said.

Another thing that Wilson said excites him about coaching in Memphis is the fanbase.

"The biggest surprise, having followed this program for as long as I have, you see it on game day," he said. "Any basketball fan can appreciate the crowds that show up for the games. Having been here on the inside, it's how much this program means to the community."

After seeing first-hand what Tiger basketball means to the city of Memphis, Wilson said he's dedicated to keep up its long-standing tradition.

"You take a lot of personal pride and responsibility to ensure that the program continues to do what it has for this community for so many years," he said.

The second addition to the Pastner bench was Cyprien, a longtime assistant in the collegiate basketball world.

With Cyprien's hiring, Pastner said, it should bring a lot of attention to Memphis from recruits around the country.

"Many are aware of how Glynn is known throughout the South as a top recruiter, but he also has the reputation as one of the nation's top recruiters," Pastner said. "He has the ability to evaluate talent, and I am confident he can help bring in some of the top players to Memphis."

Since 1987, Cyprien has found himself on the bench for several of the country's top-notch programs, including Kentucky, Arkansas, New Mexico State, Oklahoma State and UNLV, among others.

Now he's a Tiger.

"I understand the history of Tiger basketball, being from New Orleans. I followed Memphis over the years," Cyprien said. "For me, it was a no-brainer in terms of when this job came available, and when Coach Pastner called and wanted to know if I would have an interest."

The Tigers' second assistant said he expects there to be a small setback next season, especially since he knows there will be big shoes to fill.

"Anytime you can go to the Final Four, get No. 1 and No. 2 seeds over the year's like they've done - it's a national program," Cyprien said.

The main way to keep up the level of expectation, he added, is by hitting the recruiting trail.

"It's all about who's going, who's staying and just trying to fill a roster," he said. "It's seeing who's going to be here when the ball goes up."

So far, he said, recruiting hasn't been a problem.

"The number one thing we sell is the Tiger program, of course," Cyprien said. "The city itself, the enthusiasm the fans have here and what they can expect in the fall. You've got to sell the city. You've got to sell the tradition that Memphis has."

While the three will handle all of the basketball operations for now, Pastner expects to add a third staff member in the next few weeks.