Joe Pierre III has joined the Furman men’s basketball staff as an assistant coach, it was announced recently by Paladin head coach Bob Richey.
Pierre, who fills one of the two open spots on Furman’s staff, joins the Paladin program after spending the past seven seasons as a part of head coach Ritchie McKay’s staff at Liberty University where he helped guide the Flames to a 177-58 overall record, six regular season conference titles, and four conference tournament championships. Elevated to assistant coach in 2020 after arriving at Liberty in 2018, Pierre’s primary roles with the Flames included coordinating the program’s defense and recruiting efforts.
“We are really excited to add Joe to our program,” said Richey, who is entering his ninth season as Furman’s head coach. “He brings the values and experience we look for in our people. His background of winning at a place like Liberty that emphasizes development and culture, combined with his coordination of one of the best defenses in the country during his time there, made this a very desirable addition for us. We are excited to welcome Joe, Caroline, and their two children to Greenville.”
Pierre orchestrated a Liberty defense that ranked in the top 31 nationally in scoring defense in each of the past five seasons. Under Pierre’s leadership, the Flames’ defense ranked 11th this past season, allowing just 63.4 points per game, and placed fifth nationally by holding opponents to a 28.8% shooting clip from three-point range. The Flames posted a 28-7 overall record, captured their first CUSA regular season and tournament titles, and earned their fifth NCAA Tournament bid since 2017.
“My family and I are grateful to coach Richey and his wife Jessica for the opportunity to join the Furman basketball family,” said Pierre. “I am excited to be a part of what the future holds and help build upon the program’s incredible foundation. The pursuit of excellence here is evident and I’m elated to be a Paladin.”
Pierre started at Liberty in 2018 as the director of player of development and helped the Flames to back-to-back historic seasons. After becoming the 2019 ASUN Regular Season and Tournament Champions, the Flames defeated Mississippi State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. In 2020, the Flames again earned ASUN regular season and tournament titles en route to an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. Pierre helped Liberty sweep the ASUN regular season and tournament titles in 2021 to capture their third straight NCAA bid. The Flames continued their success with an ASUN East title in 2022 and ASUN regular season crown and NIT berth in 2023. The 177 victories for the Flames in Pierre’s time in Lynchburg, Va., ranks as the sixth most in the country over the seven-year span.
“I’m very thankful for my time at Liberty,” said Pierre. “We were able to create lasting relationships and shared memories that will last a lifetime. Coach McKay is my life’s greatest mentor. His friendship and leadership have impacted me in ways far beyond basketball. I am so grateful for the last seven years in Lynchburg.”
Prior to Liberty, Pierre served as the graduate assistant/video coordinator for Middle Tennessee under Kermit Davis, former head coach at Ole Miss. During his two years at Middle Tennessee, the Blue Raiders went 56-13 with two postseason tournament appearances. In 2017 Pierre and the Blue Raiders advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament, defeating the University of Minnesota. In 2018, Middle Tennessee went 25-8, won the conference regular season championship, and advanced to the second round of the NIT. At Middle Tennessee, Pierre assisted in the skill development of JaCorey Williams and Nick King, who both earned Conference USA Player of the Year awards.
Pierre spent the 2016 season at Pawnee High School in Oklahoma as a middle school social studies teacher and assistant high school basketball coach under six-time state champion coach David Page. The 2016 squad started 28-0 before falling in the state semifinal game. Pierre also spent the same season serving as head coach of the eighth-grade team at Stillwater Junior High School.
In college Pierre served as a student manager from 2011-15 at Oklahoma State working under Travis Ford, former head coach at Saint Louis, as well as his father – former Cowboys associate head coach, Butch Pierre. During his four seasons assisting with the Cowboys basketball program, OSU tallied 78 wins and made three consecutive trips to the NCAA Tournament. His father possesses more than three decades of coaching experience at LSU (Final Four 2006), Oklahoma State, N.C. State, Charlotte, Memphis, UTEP and Wichita State.
Pierre graduated from Oklahoma State in 2015 with a B.S. in secondary education and earned a M. Ed. in higher education administration from Middle Tennessee State University in 2018.
He is married to Caroline Pierre, a former Lacrosse player at Liberty University. The couple has a son, Joseph Pierre IV, and daughter, Annelise.
Pierre’s family also includes mother Clemmie, sister Dr. Langley Pierre-McClay, her husband Jordan, twin brother Josh, and his wife Erin. Josh is the director of operations at the University of Alabama under head coach Nate Oats. The Crimson Tide reached the NCAA Final Four in 2024.
https://furmanpaladins.com/news/2025/6/4/pierre-iii-joins-furman-mens-basketball-staff.aspx
