2011-12 Mens Basketball Guide

alma mater, as an assistant coach. He later became an assistant coach for the 1982 and 1983 seasons at Azusa Pacific, his collegiate alma mater. While in college, he played one season at Azusa Pacific, leading his squad to a 25-10 record as a senior and earning his bachelor’s degree in 1985.

He received his first head coaching job at Capistrano (Calif.) Christian High School in 1984, before returning to the collegiate level at Saddleback College in 1985 as an assistant coach.

Barnes spent two seasons there, finishing in second place at the California Community College state championship tournament in 1987.

He spent the 1987-88 season at Cal Poly – San Luis Obispo, before joining Kermit Davis’ Idaho staff in 1988 as an assistant coach. In his first two years at Idaho, the Vandals won two Big Sky Championships and made two NCAA Tournament appearances. After Davis departed in 1990, Barnes stayed on staff at Idaho, working with Eustachy. That stint marked the first time the two worked together as collegiate coaches. The pair coached three years together at Idaho, winning the Big Sky Conference Championship with a 24-8 record in 1993.

Barnes and Eustachy continued their coaching relationship in 1994, as Barnes served as the associate head coach at Utah State for two years.

Following the 1994 season, Barnes left the Aggies to become an assistant at Division II Cal State Bakersfield. The Roadrunners made NCAA Tournament appearances both years, including a 26-4 mark in 1996. In his short time at CSU-Bakersfield, Barnes recruited first-team All-American and 1996 Division II Player of the Year Kebu Stewart, who later became a second-round draft pick for the Philadelphia 76ers. Barnes coached two front-line standouts while at Iowa State, All-American Marcus Fizer and Paul Shirley, both of whom went on to careers in the NBA. Barnes also had a hand in recruiting former All-American and current NBA standout Jamaal Tinsley and NBA veteran Jackson Vroman.

Barnes again teamed with Eustachy at Utah State as the associate head coach in 1997. The pair spent two more seasons with the Aggies, sharing the Big West Conference regular-season title in 1997, and finishing with a 25-8 record in 1998, capturing the outright title and earning an NCAA berth.

Barnes left with Eustachy and headed to
Iowa State in 1998. The Cyclones went 15-15
in Eustachy’s first season, led by first-team
All-Big 12 selection and future All-American
Marcus Fizer. Barnes left ISU in 1999 when
he took the head job at San Jose State.

Ross Hodge

Assistant Coach

Ross Hodge begins his first season as an assistant coach with the Golden Eagles
men’s basketball program.

Hodge has seen 19 former players earn Division I scholarships. He has coach three NJCAA All-Americans, seven All-Region hon-orees, 16 All-Conference players and one conference Most Valuable Player.

Hodge comes to Southern Miss after spending the last two years at Midland (Texas) Junior College. While at Midland, Hodge led the Chaps to a 63-7 record. Last year, Hodge led MC to the Western Junior College Athletics Conference championship and a spot in the National Junior Collegiate Athletics Association (NJCAA) national title game. For his efforts, Hodge was named NJCAA Region V Coach of the Year.

In 2009-10, Hodge led the Chaps to their best start in school history, on their way to a 30-3 record before finishing the regular season with a No. 1 ranking.

Before arriving at Midland, Hodge spent four years at Paris (TX) JC, the last three as head coach, where he compiled an 83-17 record. In three years, his teams won two Texas Eastern Athletic Conference regular season championships. In 2006-07, he was named the TEAC

The Hodge File

Date of Birth: July 15, 1980
Hometown: Dallas, Texas
Education: Texas A&M-Commerce, 2003
Year at Southern Miss: First
Year in Coaching: Ninth