Kurt Budke
Encyclopedia
Kurt Budke was an American college basketball coach. His final coaching job was as the head coach for the Oklahoma State University Cowgirls
women's basketball team from 2005 until his 2011 death in a plane accident.
, and Louisiana Tech. His teams reached 20 wins in each of his years, and had double digit losses in only one of his years, prior to his first year at Oklahoma State. At the junior college level, his record stands at 273-31 (.898), which is the highest winning percentage in NJCAA.
He was also a two time NJCAA coach of the year (1995, 1998). He was also the youngest coach ever to be inducted into the NJCAA Hall of Fame. From 2002 to 2005, he coached at Louisiana Tech, where he compiled an 80-16 record, highlighted by three consecutive NCAA tournament appearances. His first Louisiana Tech team finished 31-3, and ended the season with a national ranking of 6th. The Lady Techsters reeled off 29 consecutive victories, which is the fourth longest streak in the school's storied history. He was named the WAC
coach of the year for his efforts.
In his five years as Oklahoma State's women's basketball head coach, his teams went 99-68, and made three NCAA tournament apperances, highlighted by a Sweet 16 run in the 2008 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament
.
. Budke and assistant basketball coach and recruiting coordinator Miranda Serna were killed in the accident. Budke left behind a wife and three children, the oldest of which is a student at Oklahoma State. Olin Branstetter
, an Oklahoma state senator from 1986 to 1990, and his wife, Paula Branstetter, were also killed in the crash. Both Olin and Paula Brandstetter were certified pilots; the plane was being piloted by Olin.
Oklahoma State Cowgirls basketball
The Oklahoma State Cowgirls women's basketball team represents Oklahoma State University and competes in the Big 12 Conference of NCAA Division I. The team's interim head coach is Jim Littell, who took over after former head coach Kurt Budke died in a plane crash on November 17, 2011...
women's basketball team from 2005 until his 2011 death in a plane accident.
Career
Prior to being named the women's basketball head coach of Oklahoma State in 2005, Budke had previously coached at Allen County Community College, Trinity Valley Community CollegeTrinity Valley Community College
Trinity Valley Community College is a community college in the state of Texas.TVCC operates four campuses serving the Texas counties of Anderson, Henderson, and Kaufman, southeast of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex:...
, and Louisiana Tech. His teams reached 20 wins in each of his years, and had double digit losses in only one of his years, prior to his first year at Oklahoma State. At the junior college level, his record stands at 273-31 (.898), which is the highest winning percentage in NJCAA.
He was also a two time NJCAA coach of the year (1995, 1998). He was also the youngest coach ever to be inducted into the NJCAA Hall of Fame. From 2002 to 2005, he coached at Louisiana Tech, where he compiled an 80-16 record, highlighted by three consecutive NCAA tournament appearances. His first Louisiana Tech team finished 31-3, and ended the season with a national ranking of 6th. The Lady Techsters reeled off 29 consecutive victories, which is the fourth longest streak in the school's storied history. He was named the WAC
Western Athletic Conference
The Western Athletic Conference is an American collegiate athletic conference, which was formed on July 27, 1962, making it the sixth oldest of the 11 college athletic conferences currently participating in the NCAA's Division I FBS...
coach of the year for his efforts.
In his five years as Oklahoma State's women's basketball head coach, his teams went 99-68, and made three NCAA tournament apperances, highlighted by a Sweet 16 run in the 2008 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament
2008 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 2008 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 teams playing in a single-elimination tournament to determine the 2007–08 national champion of women's NCAA Division I college basketball. It commenced on March 22, 2008, and concluded when the University of Tennessee Lady...
.
Death
Budke was killed in an airplane accident on November 17, 2011, when the Piper PA-28 Cherokee he and others were traveling in for a recruiting trip crashed in Perry County, Arkansas, about four miles south of PerryvillePerryville, Arkansas
Perryville is a city in and the county seat of Perry County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 1,458 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Little Rock–North Little Rock–Conway Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
. Budke and assistant basketball coach and recruiting coordinator Miranda Serna were killed in the accident. Budke left behind a wife and three children, the oldest of which is a student at Oklahoma State. Olin Branstetter
Olin Branstetter
Olin Branstetter was an American businessman and politician.Branstetter graduated from Oklahoma State University with a degree in agriculture in 1952. He was a Korean War veteran. Branstetter was involved in the real estate and oil production businesses. He served in the Oklahoma State Senate....
, an Oklahoma state senator from 1986 to 1990, and his wife, Paula Branstetter, were also killed in the crash. Both Olin and Paula Brandstetter were certified pilots; the plane was being piloted by Olin.