University of Evansville hires David Ragland as new men's basketball coach
EVANSVILLE, Ind. — After a three-week national coaching search, the University of Evansville ultimately picked a hometown native to lead its men's basketball program.
David Ragland, 41, was hired Tuesday as the eighth head coach in UE's Division I program history. A graduate of Harrison High School and the University of Southern Indiana, he was a finalist the last time UE conducted a search and had been atop many fans' wishlists when a change was made earlier this month.
Now two coaches later, he's headed home.
"It is a dream come true to return home," Ragland said in a news release. "Evansville is such a special place for my family and myself and the opportunity to come back to where it all started means the world.
“Growing up in the city, I understand what the Purple Aces program means to the community. From day one, I will work to establish a program that the entire University of Evansville campus community and the city of Evansville will be proud of. My family and I are excited to be home.”
David Ragland: Get to know the new Evansville men's basketball head coach
UE made the hire official shortly before 5 p.m. Tuesday, a few hours after it was first reported by CBS Sports' Matt Norlander and then confirmed by the Courier & Press. Ragland will be introduced to the public Wednesday at 6 p.m. inside Meeks Family Fieldhouse.
“As we moved through the search process for our new head men’s basketball coach, David Ragland separated himself from the other candidates and established himself as the clear choice to lead our program,” UE athletics director Kenneth "Ziggy" Siegfried said in a release. “David brings a pedigree that will help our program in every way while his familiarity with the Evansville community will help to reengage our supporters.”
Ragland spent this past season as an assistant coach on the Butler basketball staff under LaVall Jordan and earlier this spring was retained in his role under new hire Thad Matta. He has nearly two decades of coaching experience, including the past dozen years in Division I as an assistant at Utah State, Valparaiso, Northern Kentucky, Bowling Green and Indiana State. He also was a head coach at junior college Vincennes University for two seasons compiling a 44-19 record.
He was a runner-up to fellow Harrison graduate Walter McCarty when UE last interviewed candidates for this job in 2018. When Todd Lickliter took over the program in January 2020, he was hired the same day UE fired McCarty over allegations of sexual misconduct that violated Title IX.
Lickliter then was fired May 5 after going 15-53 in two-plus seasons. The decision was made exactly two weeks after UE hired Siegfried, although fans were bracing for a change before the season ended.
TurnkeyZRG assisted UE with the national search that spanned 19 days. Siegfried told reporters last week he received "significant interest" from "names that everybody who follows college basketball" would know. UE conducted more than 10 interviews virtually and finalists were interviewed on campus last week. It's unknown who else was invited to meet in person other than Ragland.
The Purple Aces completed a 6-24 campaign this spring with the fewest wins and most losses in their Division I program history. Six players have since entered the transfer portal, five remain on scholarship and there still are four roster openings.
This once-proud program has not made an NCAA tournament since 1999 and has finished last in the MVC three times in the past four seasons.
Ragland and his wife, Annie, have two children: Ava and Joshua.
Chad Lindskog is the sports editor of the Courier & Press. You can contact him by email, clindskog@gannett.com, or on Twitter: @chadlindskog.
This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: David Ragland hired as University of Evansville men's basketball coach
