Washington State Cougars - Men's Basketball

Name:
Paul Graham
Position:
Head Coach

PULLMAN, Wash. - Paul Graham was introduced as Washington State University men's basketball coach by WSU Athletic Director Rick Dickson at a press conference Thursday afternoon on the Pullman campus. Graham becomes the 14th head coach in the 98-year history of Cougar basketball. He replaces Kevin Eastman, who resigned on March 10, after five seasons at WSU.

"In Paul Graham, I believe we have found the person who is the absolute best fit for WSU," said Dickson. "He is highly respected both in coaching circles and in the Stillwater community. From a coaching standpoint, Paul brings a high quality in both recruiting and leadership. He has had the opportunity to learn from two of the best game coaches in the country in Eddie Sutton and Dave Bliss. From a community standpoint, Paul brings strong morals and family values. I know Paul and his family will be wonderful additions to the Pullman community."

Sutton, who has been at OSU for nine years, echoed Dickson's sentiments. "Paul is a great family man and is a good role model for his players," he said. "He has a philosophy that student-athletes should be treated just like you would treat your own children. He is a good teacher and has a wonderful knowledge of the game. I hate to lose Paul, but I'm excited for him and Washington State University. It is a good fit."

Graham becomes the 13th Sutton-mentored assistant coach to go on to a head coaching job. Others include Gene Keady (Purdue), Rob Evans (Arizona State), Leonard Hamilton (Miami), James Dickey (Texas Tech) and Bill Self (Tulsa).

"Paul Graham has been with me at OSU for seven years and has done a great job," Sutton said. "Paul has been an outstanding recruiter for us. He is a tireless worker and has a bulldog determination when he locks on to a recruit. He will do as well in my opinion as these coaches who have gone on to do well with their programs."

Graham, who turned 48 two weeks ago, spent the last seven seasons as an assistant to Eddie Sutton at Oklahoma State. The Cowboys compiled a 150-72 record and went to the NCAA Tournament five times during Graham's tenure. This season, OSU was 23-11 and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. In 1995, Graham helped guide Bryant "Big Country" Reeves and the Cowboys to the NCAA Final Four. Graham also coached all-Big XII players Adrian Peterson, Brooks Thompson and Randy Rutherford, while at OSU.

Praise for Graham also came from a soon-to-be rival coach. "I think (Graham) is an absolute perfect fit for Washington State," said Arizona State's Evans, another former Oklahoma State assistant. "As if this league isn't tough enough, it just got a lot tougher."

Dickson announced that Graham signed a five-year deal with an annual base salary of $125,000, plus incentives.

"We conducted an extensive, thorough search and we looked at a number of nationally qualified people - both head and assistant coaches - to identify a good pool of candidates," Dickson said. "From very early in the process, a number of different sources I spoke with identified Paul Graham as an ideal solution for WSU.

"Paul has been known throughout his career as an outstanding recruiter with ties across the country, but particularly in the West, Southwest and Midwest. That was one of the premium criteria for us. Another plus is that he has been successful in recruiting to a situation very similar to Pullman in Stillwater, Oklahoma."

After graduating from North Texas in 1974, Graham started his coaching career as the head basketball coach at Kimball High School in Dallas, Texas, from 1974-82. Graham broke into the collegiate ranks in 1982 as an assistant coach at Southern Methodist, where he studied under head coach Dave Bliss until 1988.

While at SMU, the Mustangs won the 1988 Southwest Conference Championship. Graham coached several outstanding Mustang players, including Jon Koncak, the school's second-leading scorer, Butch Moore, SMU's career assists leader, and NBA draft choices Kevin Lewis and Terry Williams. Graham then spent the 1988-89 year as an assistant athletic director at SMU before spending one season as the cross country coach at Samuell High School in Dallas.

In 1991, he returned to the collegiate sidelines and was reunited at New Mexico with Bliss. In his two seasons in Albuquerque, the Lobos advanced to postseason play twice. Led by Willie Banks and future Chicago Bull and NBA champion Luc Longley, New Mexico went 20-10 in 1991, before seeing its season end against Oklahoma State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at College Park, Md. Two years later, Graham joined Sutton on the Oklahoma State staff.

"I have known Paul Graham for over 25 years," said Evans. "He was, in my opinion, the absolute best assistant coach in the country and I know them all. He has more than paid his dues. He is a tireless worker and one of the most personable people who I have ever met."

Graham earned his bachelor's degree from North Texas in 1974, majoring in physical education and obtaining a minor in history. While at North Texas, he qualified for the NCAA Track and Field Championships in the high hurdles. He earned his masters degree in educational administration from Prairie View A&M in 1979.

Born March 11, 1951, in Kansas City, Kan., Graham graduated from Sumner High School and was a member of a state championship basketball team as well as being an all-city basketball selection and a state track champion in the high hurdles and 60-yard dash.

Graham and his wife, Vanessa, have two children, Nicholas (18) and Brittany (12).

Official Website of Washington State University Athletics | Bohler Athletic Complex | PO Box 641602 Pullman, WA 99164-1602 | 1.800.GO.COUGS