The 2022-23 season marks Joseph “Butch” Pierre's first as a member of the Wichita State coaching staff.
A veteran of nearly four decades, Pierre has enjoyed great success identifying and developing talent. He’s had a hand in seven top-10 recruiting classes and tutored 16 student-athletes who have gone on to play in the NBA. On the court, his teams have combined for nine conference titles and 16 postseason appearances, including 12 NCAA tournament bids and one Final Four.
Pierre served in a similar capacity at UTEP during the 2021-22 season after two years as head coach at Northwest Florida State College (2019-21). His resume also includes stops at Memphis (2017-18), NC State (2016-17), Oklahoma State (2008-16), LSU (1997-08), Charlotte (1996-97), Southwestern Louisiana (1988-96), Kentucky State (1986-88) and Mississippi State (1984-86).
Head coach Isaac Brown formally announced the hire on Apr. 9, 2022, stating:
“Butch is the total package. He’s a knowledgeable and experienced coach with a genuine love of people and long history of success. He has left his mark at a number of great programs and all have been better off due to his involvement.”
Pierre said:
“I have a longstanding relationship with Coach Brown,” Pierre said. “I am excited to be working with him and helping to continue Wichita State’s rich basketball tradition.”
In his lone season at UTEP, Pierre teamed up with new head coach Joe Golding to lead the Miners to its first 20-win season in seven years. A run to the second round of the inaugural Basketball Classic also marked the program’s first postseason appearance since 2015 and first win since 2009.
From 2019-21, Pierre served as head coach at Northwest Florida State College where he coached five first team all-conference players in one of the nation's toughest JUCO leagues.
Prior to NWFSC, Pierre was Director of Player Development at the University of Memphis under future Hall of Fame Coach Tubby Smith (2017-18) and spent a year on NC State’s staff (2016-17) as an assistant coach for Mark Gottfried.
Pierre spent eight seasons on Travis Ford’s staff at Oklahoma State where he helped the Cowboys to five NCAA tournament appearances. His recruiting efforts helped OSU reel in four top-20 classes (two of them top-10) and a pair of McDonalds All-Americans. Four Cowboys were drafted to the NBA -- James Anderson (20th pick, 2010), Markel Brown (44th pick, 2014), Juwan Evans (39th pick, 2017) and Marcus Smart (6th pick, 2014).
Pierre also experienced a wealth of success in nine seasons at LSU (1997-2008) as an assistant and associate head coach under John Brady. The Tigers advanced to four NCAA Tournaments (2000, 2003, 2005, 2006), including appearances in the 2006 Final 4 and 2000 Sweet 16.
LSU enjoyed top-20 recruiting classes in all nine of Pierre’s seasons in the Bayou, including five in the top-10. In 2003, the Tigers boasted the nation’s No. 1 class with three consensus top-50 freshmen.
Pierre help tutor 11 student-athletes who went on to play in the NBA – Brandon Bass (33rd pick, 2005), Kedrick Brown (11th pick, 2001), Glen “Big Baby” Davis (NBA Champion with the 2008 Boston Celtics), Ronald Dupree, Chris Johnson, Anthony Randolph (14th pick, 2008), Jabari Smith (2nd round, 2000), Stromile Swift (2nd pick, 2000), Garrett Temple, Marcus Thornton (36th pick, 2009) and Tyrus Thomas (4th pick, 2006).
Pierre served as LSU’s interim head coach in 2008 for 10 games.
Pierre made a stop at Charlotte during the 1996-97 season as an assistant, where the 49ers were the Conference USA West Division Champions and advanced to the 1997 NCAA Tournament.
For eight seasons (1988-96), Pierre served as assistant coach at Southwestern Louisiana (now Louisiana). The Ragin’ Cajuns advanced to the 1992 and 1994 NCAA Tournaments. Kevin Brooks was the 18th pick by the Milwaukee Bucks in 1991.
Pierre was an assistant coach at Kentucky State for two seasons (1986-88), after breaking into the coaching ranks as a graduate assistant at his alma mater, Mississippi State (1984-86).
Pierre played point guard for Bulldogs for four seasons (1980-84) and finished his career ranked third on the school's all-time assist chart. He earned his bachelors and master's degrees (both in education) from MSU in 1984 and 1986 respectively.
He and his wife, Clemmie Caise Pierre, have a daughter, Langley, and twin sons, Joseph III and Josh. Clemmie is a University of Kentucky graduate. Langley recently received her Ph.D. in Educational Leadership from LSU in 2021. Joseph III is currently an assistant basketball coach at Liberty University, and Josh is Director of Video Scouting and Recruiting Operations at Elon University.
THE PIERRE FILE:
Coaching Experience:
2022-Pr. -- Wichita State (Assistant Coach)
2021-22 – UTEP (Assistant Coach)
2019-21 – Northwest Florida State College (Head Coach)
2017-18 – Memphis (Director of Player Personnel)
2016-17 – NC State (Assistant Coach)
2008-16 – Oklahoma State (Assistant Coach)
2008 – LSU (Interim Head Coach; 10 games)
1997-2008 – LSU (Assistant Coach & Associate Head Coach)
1996-97 – Charlotte (Assistant Coach)
1988-96 – Southwestern Louisiana (Assistant Coach)
1986-88 – Kentucky State (Assistant Coach)
1984-86 – Mississippi State (Graduate Assistant)
Playing Career:
Mississippi State (1980-84)
Education:
B.A. – Mississippi State (’84) – Education
Masters – Mississippi State (’86) – Education
