Get to Know: Furman's New Coaches
Learn about the coaches who have joined the Paladins for the '24-25 season
After a challenging season, Furman University is embarking on a new chapter, seeking to rejuvenate both the team and the coaching staff. Furman jumped into the coaching carousel by hiring experienced coaching talent from all levels of the collegiate game. Throughout Coach Richey’s tenure, Furman has maintained its staff for the past five years as continuity has been a pillar of the program. Furman was able to stop advances from USC Upstate on Associate Head Coach Jeremy Growe. However the coaching carousel process this offseason led to three open spots on the bench and a gaping hole in the weight room. Veteran Furman assistant Tim Johnson mutually parted ways with the staff, and eventually joined Indiana State as an assistant. Meanwhile, Jake Delaney returned to Gardner-Webb, where his coaching career began, and is now serving as the associate head coach. Additionally, former Director of Player Development Desmond Parker has taken on the same role at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Florida. Strength coach Matt Aldred took a well-deserved jump to the Power 5 and took the strength position in Ann Arbor, for the Michigan Wolverines. With these critical openings, the Paladins made tactful and strategic moves to keep the program on course. Furman basketball is looking forward to a promising season ahead.
Kip Owens - Asst. Coach
Kip Owens comes to Furman after a short but successful stint as the associate head coach at Flagler University. Current assistant coach Chad Warner seems to have had a role in hiring Owens, as Warner was the former head coach during Owens time at Flagler. With Owens, Flagler posted an overall record of 41-11, a 78% win rate. Coach Owens began as a collegiate player himself. From 2014-2017, he played at the University of Alabama in Huntsville for current Lipscomb head coach, Lennie Acuff.
“It was the alignment of not only the basketball piece but the personal piece and what he stood for as a person….” - Bob Richey via Inside Furman Athletics
While working as an assistant coach, Bob Richey studied the Alabama Huntsville program, admiring the program Acuff had built. He has since emulated aspects of the Huntsville program at Furman. In the offseason, Richey watched an entire Alabama Huntsville season, and playing down low for the Chargers was Kip Owens. Fast forward to 2017, when Richey was named Furman's head coach; his first phone call was to Chad Warner. at that point Warner declined to join the Furman staff, opting instead to accept the Flagler head coaching job. One of Warner's first hires was Owens as an assistant coach. Coaching is all about connections.
Khyle Marshall - Asst. Coach
Marshall comes to Furman from South Dakota State, where he served as an assistant coach for three seasons. He has experience coaching in two recent NCAA tournaments. During his time at South Dakota State, Marshall played a pivotal role in the Jackrabbits' historic 2021-2022 season. The team achieved a remarkable record of 30-5 overall and led Division I in 3-point percentage at 44.5%. Prior to his tenure at South Dakota State, Marshall held coaching positions as an assistant coach at Florida Southwestern College, video coordinator at Florida Gulf Coast, and director of scouting at Illinois-Chicago.
Before transitioning to coaching, Marshall enjoyed an impressive and successful basketball career as a player. During his freshman year at Butler University, Marshall helped lead the Bulldogs to the 2011 national championship game. By the conclusion of his collegiate career, Marshall had amassed 1,373 points and 609 rebounds, boasting a shooting percentage of 54.2% from the field with 2 national championship appearances. He is 17th on Butler’s all-time scoring list. Following his time at Butler, Marshall pursued a fruitful overseas career, competing in Japan, Spain, Portugal, and the Dominican Republic.
Given Furman's underwhelming performance from its post players in the previous season, Richey believes Marshall can play a crucial role in revitalizing the group and developing Cooper Bowser.
Rett Lister - Asst. Coach and Director of Basketball Ops
Furman fans will enjoy seeing a familiar face and fan favorite back on the sidelines. Originally a Furman basketball walk-on, Rett Lister graduated in 2023 and in May of that same year, joined the Kent State basketball program as a graduate assistant. Coaching runs in Lister’s blood, as his father is the head coach at North Greenville University. Hailing from Easley, South Carolina, Rett is returning to Furman in a dual role as an assistant coach and Director of Basketball Operations.
Furman’s staff advocated for Rett and convinced Richey to bring him on board as soon as possible. Shortly after these conversations, Richey FaceTimed Rett, who was at the golf course at the time and asked him, “Are you ready to come home?”
Richey felt comfortable making the decision for Rett to return without considering other candidates. This speaks volumes about his confidence in Rett's abilities. Not only did the coaching staff vouch for Rett, but current players did as well. (See below).
“He is through and through Furman… He will walk from Kent State to Furman right now, and we need to get him here as fast as we can.” - Bob Richey via Inside Furman Athletics
A reasonable assumption can be made that Lister also played a role in the acquisition of the new Paladin player, Jalen Sullinger. Sullinger comes to Furman from Kent State, where he averaged 15 ppg while shooting 42% from the field.
Jon Uribe - Director of Basketball Performance
With the tough departure of strength coach Matt Aldred, Furman was left to fill one of its most important positions. Development is the base on which the program is built, so Furman cannot afford to place just anyone in the role. After Aldred’s departure, Richey consulted Preston Greene to help fill the position. Greene, who now serves as the Director of Strength and Conditioning at the University of Florida, highly recommended Uribe.
Uribe has spent four seasons at UAB as the head strength coach. Under Uribe, the Blazers set a program record with 29 wins in 2023. The following year, the Blazers captured a Conference USA tournament title and made an NCAA tournament appearance. Before UAB, Uribe began his career as an intern at the University of Arizona. Following his time at Arizona, Uribe worked at Louisiana and Florida in strength and conditioning roles.
While at UAB:
* 2023-24 - AAC Conference Tournament Champions (23-12 Record)
* 2022-23 - NIT Runner-Up - School Record 29 wins (29-10 Record)
* 2021-22 - C-USA Conference Tournament Champions (27-9 Record)
* 2020-21 - 22-7 Record