ASSISTANT COACH CHRIS COKER

Since stepping on board in August 2001, Assistant Coach Chris Coker has worked tirelessly as a recruiter, motivator, and teacher under Head Coach Rick Reedy.

Coker was recently placed on the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Division II Assistant Coaches Committee, and will serve through the conclusion of the Final Four (2005).

A 35-year old native of Booneville, Miss., Coker has  had previous coaching stints at Baldwyn (Miss.) High School, where he served as Head Men's Basketball Coach for both the junior high, junior varsity.  Assistant Men's Basketball Coach and Head Women's Softball Coach.  After his high school career, Coker came to the University of West Alabama and served two years as a graduate assistant under Head Coach Rick Reedy.  From there, Coker became the assistant coach for Texas A&M-Kingsville, where he spent two seasons.  Now, he is back in a town and a part of a program that he feels comfortable in and enjoys immensely.

Coker is a 1994 graduate of the University of North Alabama with a B.S. in Social Studies Education.  He earned his Master's Degree in Continuing Education from UWA in 1999.

He is married to Christal Compton Coker of Meridian, Miss. The couple has one son Jacob (7).

Student Assistant
Adam Ruffin

Adam Ruffin enters his first season on the UWA coaching staff and will serve as student assistant.

The Auburn, Ala., native spent two seasons playing for the Tigers after a two-year playing career at Walters State Community College. As a senior for UWA, he averaged 5.3 points per game in 19.6 minutes of playing time. He also finished second on the team, averaging 4.6 rebounds per game.

As a junior, he scored 4.1 points per night, while also grabbing 3.6 rebounds per contest. He also led the Tigers with a 52.8 shooting percentage from the floor.