Bagget, Witcoskie join Dempsey on men's basketball sidelines

By Amanda Thorogood

While still recuperating from a less-than-stellar season in 2005-2006, the men’s basketball team welcomed newly appointed assistant coaches Kevin Baggett and Mike Witcoskie to the team.

Although the 2006-2007 season has yet to begin, head coach Tommy Dempsey is optimistic about the effect the two new additions will have.

“I finally feel like I have my perfect staff,” said Dempsey. “I am excited about what Kevin and Mike bring to the table.”

Baggett, a 1989 graduate of St. Joseph’s University, is a Burlington native who was been a Division I assistant coach for the past ten years. His coaching stops include James Madison, Howard, Western Kentucky and Coastal Carolina. He served as an assistant at the University of Maryland–Baltimore County in 2005-2006 and joined Rider on Sept. 5 when Fred Dupree left to become an assistant coach at the College of Charleston.

“Kevin has been around the game of basketball for over 15 years and brings with him a great deal of experience that makes for a great coach,” Dempsey said.

Like Baggett, Mike Witcoskie, a 2001 graduate of Susquehanna University, has also led a life fully involved with the sport of basketball.

In his senior year at Susquehanna, Witcoskie served as team captain for the men’s basketball team under Dempsey’s direction. Two years later, Witcoskie was hired by Susquehanna as an assistant coach, though Dempsey had already left to serve as an assistant at Rider. A year later, Witcoskie bolted for Wilkes College. In two years at Wilkes as a recruiting coordinator, intramural director and assistant coach, Witcoskie helped lead the Colonels to the Freedom Conference championship game in the Middle Atlantic Conference.

Although he is young and just beginning his career, Dempsey says that Witcoskie “is energetic and has a real hunger for the game of basketball.” Dempsey should know. He witnessed Witcoskie’s maturation from star-studded athlete to developing mastermind firsthand.

“It’s a different relationship now,” said Witcoskie in regards to his continuing relationship with Dempsey. “When he was my coach, and I was a player, he was more of an authoritative figure, more commanding. Now, we’re co-workers, more like friends. It’s a great connection.”

Baggett and Witcoskie were the final two pieces added to a suddenly promising coaching staff.

“One is a guy with a lot of experience and the other is a guy who is just starting, but has the drive to really succeed,” said Dempsey. “The two new additions compliment each other very well.”