New and Improved John Pelphrey

TTU Hires the Former Arkansas Head Coach

(St. Louis, MO) – John Pelphrey is ready to be a head coach again. The new Tennessee Tech coach experienced moderate success in past head coaching jobs but says he’s learned some valuable lessons as an assistant and is a new and improved version of himself.

Nine seasons as a head coach produced a winning record (149-126). Five campaigns at South Alabama produced two divisional championships and two trips to postseason play. Four years at Arkansas were less successful, but his Razorback teams were competitive.

The 50-year-old Pelphrey has spent most of the last nine years as an assistant coach in the Southeast Conference. The former Kentucky Wildcat star says lessons learned at Florida and Alabama have prepared him to build a successful program.

Learn, Lead and Take on Challenges

After thanking numerous people in the Alabama program, Pelphrey said, “you guys made me better.”

Pelphrey said he wasn’t desperately looking for a new job.

“I was looking for a home,” said Pelphrey. “We were seeking a place where we could learn, lead and take on challenges. We were wanting to build something and build it the right way and compete for championships.”

Pelphrey’s mentors in the coaching business include Eddie Sutton, Billy Donovan and Avery Johnson. He says the key ingredient for success is found in leadership. Pelphrey says he has been on an eight-year quest to become a new and improved leader.

“The last 8 years I’ve been on a quest,” admitted Pelphrey. “It’s all about leadership. We’ve had a chance to grow in that area. We want to build something where we can put this thing together, based on the right DNA and set a culture. Then let me be responsible for setting healthy boundaries and guide-lines and hold everybody accountable.”

Passion and Mindset

Pelphrey, whose number is retired at Kentucky, says coaching for him, is not a profession, but it is a passion. He believes mind set and self discipline are the keys to success.

Sighting great alignment between the athletic department and the university administration, Pelphrey believes the future is bright for Golden Eagle basketball. Tennessee Tech has alternated winning seasons with losing ones for the past seven years. Last year’s 8-23 record was the low point.

Possible returning players are last season’s three leading scorers in Jr Clay (14.4 points per game), Hunter Vick (11.2 ppg), Micaiah Henry (9.7). Corey Tillery (8.1) was last year’s fifth leading scorer. So the cupboard is far from bare.

(Update – verbalcommits.com reports Henry is transferring)

The new and improved John Pelphrey believes all the right ingredients are available in Cookeville, Tennessee. He says his team will have the right mind set of wanting to be great and the self discipline to accomplish the task. Pelphrey believes the Golden Eagles will be new and improved.

Do Good