University of Georgia Athletics
Fox Completes Staff
July 14, 2009 | Men's Basketball
ATHENS ----- University of Georgia basketball coach Mark Fox on Tuesday announced the completion of his first Bulldog staff with the hiring of three new support personnel: Director of Basketball Operations Kent Davison, Operations Coordinator Mark Pope and Graduate Assistant Todd Okeson.
Additionally, Fox said that Cory Cason will return for the 2010 season as the team's Graduate Manager, a position that he held last season.
The three most recent additions to the Georgia staff reflect different stages of Fox's career within the game of basketball. Davison coached Fox in the late 1980's at Garden City Community College in Kansas. Pope played collegiately for two seasons at the University of Washington, where Fox got his start as an assistant coach. Lastly, Okeson was recruited by Fox to play at Nevada when Fox was the Wolf Pack's Associate Head Coach.
"I think we've added three very bright and energetic people to our staff," Fox said. "A head coach is only as good as his staff, and we've been able to put together a group that, I believe, will really be an asset to our program, and also to the University."
In coming to Georgia, Davison continues a long career in coaching that has covered many different levels, including college, professional and international teams. Most recently, he served one year as the head coach of the Qatar National Team. Before his commitment to the Qataris, Davison spent 10 seasons coaching in the professional ranks. He was the first-ever head coach for three franchises in the NBA Developmental League: Roanoke (2001-06), Colorado (2007) and Fort Wayne (2008). Prior to his experience in the NBDL, Davison coached the Fort Wayne Fury and the Dodge City Legend of the United States Basketball League (USBL), leading the latter to the 2000 championship.
A 1972 graduate of Sterling (Kan.) College, Davison first coached at Winfield (Kan.) High School and Wichita State (1975-76) before beginning a 17-year stint at Garden City CC. Fox played the 1988-89 seasons at Garden City before transferring to Eastern New Mexico.
"Kent has such a wealth of knowledge and experience, not only in basketball but in athletics, and at so many different levels," Fox said. "He has a wonderful way with people and a passion for life. I am confident he'll be a great addition to our staff."
A native of Bellevue, Wash., Pope played the 1991-92 seasons at Washington before transferring to the University of Kentucky. As a senior he was a key reserve on the Wildcats' 1996 NCAA championship team, averaging 7.6 points and 5.2 rebounds. As a professional, Pope played two seasons in Turkey and six in the NBA, two each in Indiana, Milwaukee and Denver. Most recently, he enrolled in medical school at Columbia University in 2006.
"Mark is the first kid I coached as a graduate assistant at Washington," Fox said. "He was a terrific player in college and in the NBA. He's a very bright, articulate guy that has made a commitment to get into coaching, where I think he has a great future."
Okeson, a native of Weskan, Kan., played the 2001-02 seasons at Dodge City Community College before transferring to Nevada. In his senior season of 2004, he was the Wolf Pack's unheralded star of their run to the NCAA Sweet 16, scoring 19 points in a second-round upset of then-third-ranked Gonzaga. Okeson later played professionally in Europe before returning to Nevada, first as Fox's program assistant and last season as an assistant coach for the NBDL's Reno Bighorns.
"Todd played for us and he later coached for me at Nevada," Fox said. "He, too, is a very bright young man who will bring a lot of energy to our staff and our program. I'm really looking forward to having him on our staff."
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Fans can join the Bulldogs as they embark on the 2009-10 basketball season. The best way you can show your allegiance is through the Basketball Enhancement Fund (BEF), whose patrons annually stake their claim to the most coveted seats in Stegeman Coliseum. A new feature for the 2010 campaign is the addition of 24 premier courtside seats.