Case hired as assistant on men's basketball staff

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Win Case followed the advice of a former college teammate who became a highly-successful head coach when pursuing the vacant Middle Tennessee men's basketball assistant coach position, and he's glad he did.

Case, who has been part of four national championships at the college level, has been hired as an assistant on the Blue Raiders' staff, head coach Kermit Davis announced Monday.

"Win is a proven head coach and he won two national championships as a head coach, which speaks for itself," Davis said. "Win has had a lot of opportunities to get to this level. He came on an interview and was blown away by the community, the school, the commitment and he just thought this would be a good place for him and his family."

Case said a phone call from Kansas head coach Bill Self stimulated his interest in the vacant position on Davis' staff. Case and Self were teammates at Oklahoma State and Case's son, Jeremy, was a member of Kansas' national championship team in 2008 and is currently on the Jayhawks staff as a graduate assistant.

"When I was trying to decide if I was going to pursue this position I got a call from Bill Self and he just raved about coach Davis," Case said. "(Self) told me coach Davis was one of the best and he told me I needed to look hard at the position. At that time the position had not been offered but what coach Self said certainly appealed in terms of having an opportunity to work with a coach who has that type of reputation. Coach Davis has a reputation around the country that is second to none."

An opportunity to work for Davis spurred his interest in the opening and then Case arrived on campus.

"First and foremost was the chance to work for one of the best coaches in the country," Case said of his decision to work at Middle Tennessee. "That got my initial interest and then once I came here and saw this University I was blown away with what they have with the facilities and how everything is run first class."

Case's responsibilities will include, but are not limited to, recruiting, scouting, and day-to-day preparation of the Blue Raider basketball team.

"Win has a great personality and I love his positive, upbeat attitude," Davis said. "I believe it will help us in recruiting and (Case) will help us on the court."

Case compiled a 364-138 record in 16 seasons as a head coach. He won two national championships as head coach at Oklahoma City University. He said looks forward to recruiting to what he believes is a great University with an immense amount to offer.

"Recruiting is so important, not only the type of players in terms of athleticism, but also good people and I think the one thing I can bring to the table is that I am a people person and recruiting is all about relationships," Case said. "I want to build upon those relationships because it is so important to having a successful basketball program."

Case said he has been impressed with Middle Tennessee's players during 4-on-0 workouts but he has been even more delighted at the type of people they are.

"I've been to a lot of different places and I have never been to a school and program where every single kid in the program is low maintenance," Case said. "These are really good kids and I made a comment to coach Davis after I met with all of them and had a chance to talk with them that I had never seen this before. Not only are they good players on the court but they also are good kids and it's a joy for me to work with them."

Case brings a wealth of experience and success to Middle Tennessee. He most recently was head men's basketball coach at Redlands College. Case was at Redlands one season and his team posted a 21-11 mark in 2007-08. Prior to that he spent two seasons at Eastern Oklahoma State College where he served as head men's basketball coach and athletics director.

Case was head coach at Oklahoma City University for 15 years, posting a 343-127 record and winning the NAIA National Championship in 1994 and 1996. Prior to his 15 years as head coach at Oklahoma City, Case served as an assistant there and was part of two national championships (1991, 1992). The 1992 squad was 38-0.

Case played two seasons at Seminole Junior College and led the team to a runner-up finish in the NJCAA national championship game. Following two years of junior college, Case played two years at Oklahoma State, where he averaged 10.7 points as a senior.

Case began his coaching career as an assistant at Oklahoma Baptist in 1987. He spent two seasons as an assistant at Eastern Oklahoma before joining the staff at Oklahoma City University.

Case has two children - Jeremy (24) and Tiffany (25). He is married to the former Ronda Crowe.