New MSU coach adds Stiles to ranks

New Missouri State University coach Kellie Harper has filled three positions on her staff, including one with a familiar name to Lady Bears fans.

Former MSU basketball standout Jackie Stiles has signed on as as assistant coach for the 2013-14 season. She joins Harper's husband, Jon, who has served as assistant coach for his wife for 12 seasons. Kellie Harper also added Jennifer Sullivan - a former assistant coach for a pair of Sun Belt Conference schools - as recruiting coordinator for the Lady Bears. The women's basketball team staff still lacks a director of basketball operations, which likely will be filled in the coming weeks, according to a news release.

"Words can't describe how excited I am to be coaching at my alma mater. It's a dream come true because I love the school and community so much," said Stiles, who also played in the Women's National Basketball Association, in the release. "I'm ready to put my heart and soul into making Missouri State the best women's basketball program it can be."

While a collegiate player, Stiles led the Lady bears to the 2001 NCAA Final Four, and later was the first MSU player to be drafted into the WNBA.

Since 2007, she has owned and operated J. Stiles Total Training, which provides training camps and clinics, personal training, motivational speaking and sports broadcasting, the release said.

Jon Harper most recently worked as assistant coach alongside his wife at North Carolina State, serving as one of the team's primary recruiters, coaching backcourt players and building the schedule.

"MSU is a big name in the women's basketball world and certainly caught Kellie and my eyes when the position came open," he said in the release.

Also new to MSU, Sullivan most recently served as associate head coach at University of Louisiana in Lafayette, working to recruit, handle guard development and schedules. Prior to that, she was an assistant at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, the release said.

MSU last month cleaned out the women's basketball department with the firing of former head coach Nyla Milleson and four assistant coaches.

Harper was hired for the top post April 10. Her appointment, as well as that of her assistant coaches, is contingent on formal approval by the MSU Board of Governors during its May 16 meeting.