Shockers hire new assistant

Wichita, Ks (goshockers.com)- Steve Forbes has been named Assistant Basketball Coach at Wichita State, Head Coach Gregg Marshall announced today.

“Steve, for more than two decades, has been part of successful basketball programs,” Marshall said. “From junior college, his days in The Valley, and in helping making Texas A& M and Tennessee national contenders, he is a winner. He does a great job on the floor coaching, can recruit the entire nation, and he is a tremendous relationship builder with young people.

“We are excited to have someone with his skill set, who is also looking for a second chance in our profession, to join our staff.”

Forbes comes to Wichita State from Northwest Florida State, where he coached the Raiders to a 61-6 record during his two-year tenure in Niceville, Fla. Five of his junior college players recently transferred to Division I schools in the offseason.

“I’m excited and honored to be a member of Coach Marshall’s staff at Wichita State,” Forbes said. “Coach Marshall is one of the top coaches in college basketball, proving that with a run to the Final Four this past year. In addition, I have a lifelong friendship with Chris Jans and Greg Heiar. I’m thrilled to be working with such a talented staff and with a group of coaches for which I have so much respect.

“I spent five years coaching in Kansas at Barton County, so I fully understand the history and passion for Shocker Basketball. Coach Marshall has raised the level of excitement for the program to an all-time high. Wichita is a basketball city, and it’s fan base is one of the most knowledgeable and most passionate in the country.

“I’m indebted to coach Marshall and the WSU administration for believing in me,” said Forbes.
Forbes’ Division I experience includes five years at Tennessee, two seasons at Texas A&M, one year at Illinois State and three years at Louisiana Tech and one year at Idaho.

“I am excited about the addition of Steve Forbes to the men’s basketball staff,” said Eric Sexton, Wichita State Director of Athletics. “He is a quality individual who brings a great resume and knows what it takes to recruit and develop Division I student-athletes. He will fit in nicely with Gregg Marshall’s staff.”

In the five seasons at Tennessee, Forbes helped coach the Vols to an average of 26 wins per year, and advanced to four consecutive NCAA Tournaments–making three Sweet Sixteen appearances and advancing to the program’s first-ever Elite Eight in 2010.

The Vols won a school-record 31 games in 2008, and their 14-2 league record gave the program its first outright SEC championship in more than 40 years. Following a 66-62 win at top-ranked Memphis on Feb. 23, 2008, UT earned the first No. 1 ranking in school history.

Forbes’ experience also helped Tennessee’s 2006, 2008 and 2010 recruiting classes to a top 10 national ranking by multiple ratings services.

Forbes came to Tennessee after spending two seasons at Texas A&M, where he helped turn the Aggies from a team that had posted a 7-21 record the previous season and hadn’t received a postseason invitation in 11 years, to a program that averaged more than 21 wins in his two seasons and advanced to postseason play both years.

A&M posted back-to-back seasons with the most Big 12 Conference wins in school history with Forbes on the bench. Picked to finish last in the Big 12 prior to the 2004-05 season, the Aggies won their first 11 games and went on to a 21-10 record and made an appearance in the National Invitation Tournament. In 2005-06 Texas A&M advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1987 while recording a 22-9 record, the third-most wins in school history. The Aggies defeated Syracuse in the first round of the NCAA Tournament before falling to eventual Final Four participant LSU on a last-second shot.

Texas A&M’s recruiting also benefited from Forbes’ experience, as each of the Aggie’s two recruiting classes during his time in College Station were ranked among the top 10 in the nation.

Before joining Billy Gillispie’s coaching staff at Texas A&M, Forbes coached at Illinois State (2003-04) and spent three years at Louisiana Tech (2000-03), where he helped sign two nationally-ranked recruiting classes, including a top-10 class in 2003. In 2002 the Bulldogs posted a 22-10 record and went 2-1 in the National Invitation Tournament, their first postseason appearance in 10 years.

In 1998 Forbes joined the Idaho coaching staff as an assistant coach before being promoted to associate head coach for the 1998-99 season. In his first season, the Vandals improved to 16-11 and signed a nationally-ranked recruiting class.

Forbes compiled a 68-28 record in three years (1995-98) as the head coach at Barton County Community College in Great Bend, Kan. During his three seasons competing in the Jayhawk Conference, the Cougars produced three All-Americas, twice finished the season with a national ranking and earned victories over 15 nationally-ranked teams.

After spending two years (1989-91) as an assistant coach at Southwestern Community College in Creston, Iowa, Forbes was promoted to head coach in March 1991.

A native of Lone Tree, Iowa, Forbes graduated from Southern Arkansas University with a degree in secondary education in 1988. A former baseball student-athlete for the Muleriders, Forbes spent one year at his alma mater as the sports information director before embarking on a coaching career.