Wichita, Kansas (WIBW) – Drake’s head coach Ben McCollum and Texas Tech assistant coach Jeff Linder were tasked with the Emporia State coaching staff under David Moh. The Bulldogs and Red Raiders are scheduled to meet on Saturday at the second round of the NCAA Tournament in Wichita.
WIBW sports director Andrew Lind spoke with Coach Moe on Friday and asked why he hired both McCollum and Linder. Moe described himself as a tactician on his team, and found that those people added intangible assets like personality and enthusiasm.
McCollum is in his first year with Drake after winning four national titles in northwestern Missouri over 15 years. Moe said it was fun to see his success on both levels. He is also proud of the role Jeff Linder has won at Lubbock.
“MIAA is not a league where you can just come in and dominate the way he did,” Moe said of McCollum. “But I’m even more excited about his success at this level with Drake. He’s back at (Linder) Grant. It’s a great situation for him. He’ll become an offensive coordinator.
At a press conference Friday, McCollum recalls his first meeting with Texas Tech head coach Grant McCasland, and says he has been friends with him ever since.
“One summer, I went to an event in Dallas, spent a lot of time with Grant, and then I really got close to him,” recalls McCollum. “All the people on that staff are pretty close friends. He helps me a lot. Jeff clearly helps me a lot.
Another technical assistant, Luke Burnwell, has returned to Wichita over the years in Kansas. Burnwell grew up in Emporia and spent time playing college ball in Emporia and coaching the coaching of Bell Ia’s Sunrise Christian Academy.
Tip-offs in Wichita are set at 5:10pm on Saturdays.
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