Joe Redmond named new BTW boys basketball coach
BY BILL HAISTEN World Sports Writer
Sunday, June 17, 2012
6/17/12 at 6:01 AM
Booker T. Washington High School has hired a basketball head-coaching successor to Shea Seals.
Joe Redmond, a 39-year-old native of Kansas City, Mo., and a former NCAA Division II head coach at Henderson State in Arkansas and East Central University in Ada, has been handed the keys to the Booker T. Washington basketball machine.
When Redmond learned that Seals resigned from the Booker T. job in April, Redmond says his interest in the Hornet position was "immediate."
"Having a chance to win a championship every year - there aren't many places that provide that opportunity," Redmond said. "I was hoping to be considered for the job, and I'm very pleased that it worked out the way it did."
After only two games last season - which would have been his second season at East Central - Redmond was dismissed by the university. The explanation from East Central officials: Redmond had been terminated because of "a possible NCAA violation ... tied to basketball recruiting."
After Redmond was one of 22 applicants for the Booker T. Washington job - and one of eight finalists to be interviewed by Tulsa Public Schools athletic director Gil Cloud and other officials - there was a TPS investigation into Redmond's situation at East Central.
East Central is a member of the Great American Conference. Cloud said he discussed the Redmond allegations with the Great American Conference commissioner and a former NCAA compliance official.
"The violations were minor and usually would have been handled at the institutional level," Cloud said. "The NCAA was aware of everything. The allegations weren't (addressed) at the NCAA level."
"I think Joe Redmond will be fantastic for the (Booker T. Washington) culture," Cloud added.
In 1972-82, Mike Mims coached the Hornets to three state championships. He now is Booker T. Washington's assistant principal over discipline and athletics.
"Booker T. basketball is a personal love of mine. It's a tradition like no other," Mims said. "We've been blessed with great coaches, and I expect Joe Redmond to be a great coach for us. He will be an authority figure in the huddle and in the classroom."
In five seasons at Booker T. Washington, Seals coached the Hornets to Class 5A championships in 2010 and 2011 - the 14th and 15th state titles in school history. Booker T. Washington now competes in Class 6A.
Seals has joined the University of Tulsa basketball staff.
While having extensive experience in college basketball, Redmond never has been a head coach at the high school level.
Addressing his history at East Central, Redmond said, "I felt confident that if the (TPS officials) did their research, and after the whole story had been told, that I would have a chance at Booker T. Washington.
"It's not often that you go through what I went through and end up coaching at a place as wonderful as Booker T. Washington."
Redmond at a glance
A look at new Booker T. Washington High school basketball coach Joe Redmond:
Age: 39
Family: Wife Carla, daughter Mae (age 10).
Hometown: Kansas City, Mo.
Background: Attended high school in Parsons, Kan. Played wide receiver and running back for the Independence (Kan.) Community College football team. Attended Pittsburg State University.
Basketball coaching history: East Central University head coach, 2010-11; University of North Carolina-Wilmington assistant, 2007-10; Henderson State University for six seasons (three as head coach, three as an assistant); Labette (Kan.) Community College head coach, three seasons.
Original Print Headline: Hornets pick Redmond
Bill Haisten 918-581-8397
bill.haisten@tulsaworld.com
Associated Images:
Joe Redmond replaces Shea Seals as the new boys' basketball head coach at Booker T. Washington High School. KT KING/Tulsa World
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