A familiar name has resurfaced within the Mississippi State basketball program, one that will resonate with fans immediately.
Pierre.
But instead of Butch, it’s his son Josh.
On Wednesday, the 25-year-old Pierre was named MSU’s new video coordinator. He joins the Bulldogs’ staff after spending the previous year as director of operations at his alma mater, Arkansas State.
“We are thrilled to have Josh joining our staff,” MSU coach Ben Howland said. “He’s been around basketball his entire life. He’s extremely intelligent and has a great work ethic. He’s going to be a huge boost to our program.”
Pierre, who played for Red Wolves from 2013-16, will oversee all video scouting and recruiting components and assist with the day-to-day operation of summer basketball camps.
“?I am extremely excited to be joining the Mississippi State Bulldog family,” said the Baton Rouge, La., native, who played for former MSU assistant John Brady. “Coach Howland is one of the most respected and decorated coaches in college basketball. His basketball pedigree is elite. I am looking forward to working with the players every day and with one of the best staffs in the country.”
Following graduation from A-State, Pierre served as a graduate assistant for Grant McCasland, aiding in scouting reports, practice and game planning before being hired as director of operations by Mike Balado.
This past spring, he was promoted to director of scouting.
As a player, Pierre was a part of the Arkansas State team that earned a Sun Belt Conference Western Division Championship (2012-13) and compiled back-to-back 19 win seasons for the first time in 24 years.
He competed in 44 games and led the nation in walk-on minutes per game (13.2) during conference play in 2015-16. In addition to being named to the Sun Belt Academic Honor Roll, Athletic Directors Honor Roll and Dean’s List, he was voted ‘Best Teammate’ by his teammates and coaching staff each season as a student-athlete, as well as being a team captain.
Pierre graduated from Arkansas State in December of 2015 with a B.S. in Sports Management and is currently pursuing his masters in sports administration. He is a Pike Alumni and served as the fraternities’ Spiritual Chair each year as a member. He was also a recipient of the Dr. Warren and Lu L. Nedrow Scholarship for Distinguished Alumni.
Pierre is the son of Butch and Clemmie Pierre. His father has more than 30 years of coaching experience, with stops at LSU, Oklahoma State and Memphis.
His twin brother, Joe, is currently the director of player personnel at Liberty University. His mother is a graduate of Kentucky, while his sister Langley, completed her undergraduate and master’s degree at LSU and is seeking her PhD in higher education administration.
Butch, who also earned his masters at MSU, was a standout for the Bulldogs under Jim Hatfield and Bob Boyd from 1981-84. In 1982, he led MSU with a .602 shooting percentage, and he currently ranks ninth all-time with 342 assists. As a sophomore and junior, he paced Mississippi State with 104 and 108 points, respectively. He was also third on the team in scoring his last three seasons.
“Mississippi State has always had a special place in my heart, and has always been a part of the foundation of the Pierre family,” Josh said. “I cannot wait to help build on Coach Howland’s legacy and the foundation he has already built in Starkville to compete for SEC Championships.”
http://hailstate.com/news/2018/5/9/mens-basketball-howland-tabs-pierre-as-new-video-coordinator.aspx
