Following the departure of former Red Wolves basketball coach Bryan Hodgson for the University of South Florida, Arkansas State University announced March 29 that the team will replace Hodgson with Ryan Pannone.

Pannone was previously the assistant coach at the University of Alabama. Crimson Tide head coach Nate Oats said Pannone helped boost the team’s highest scoring average and lead the Crimson Tide to the Final Four and the Elite Eight in the NCAA tournament in consecutive years.

Pannone also has 18 years of coaching at the professional level, with assistant coaching jobs taking him to teams in China and Israel. Pannone was the head coach for 2 seasons at BC Prievidza of the Extraliga in Slovakia. Pannone also has head coaching experience in the NBA G League as the coach of the Birmingham Squadron. 

An introductory press conference was held on Friday for Pannone.

“Ninety-five percent of success in higher education is who you hire, and I am really proud to be part of the team that brought Coach here to Arkansas State University,” ASU Systems President Brendan Kelly said, “Today, we get to celebrate bringing a great person, great family and great coach to Jonesboro.”

Chancellor Todd Shields was introduced next and talked about the season the men’s team had and the impact made on the basketball culture at A-State by Hodgson.

“I want to extend a special thanks to coach Bryan Hodgson and his entire team. Coach Hodgson created a remarkable excitement and energy in our men’s basketball program, creating a strong foundation of success upon which we will continue to build.” Shields said.

Pannone has put in effort to get students, fans and donors involved. From introducing himself to students on campus and buying meals for students to holding fundraisers, Pannone has been a busy man in his first week with the Red Wolves.

“Coach Pannone joined coffee clubs across the city, met in country clubs for dinner, purchased hundreds of dollars from his own wallet of Chick-Fil-A for students in the cafeteria and bought dozens of pizzas for student groups across campus,” Shields said, “His actions and values will help not only men’s basketball, but A-State athletics, the university and our entire community.”

During his opening statement, Pannone hit on his values and what he cares about, his coaching experience, and how Arkansas State feels like a community.

“Jeff talked about it, you can’t do it alone and every coach that’s in this room appreciates the support that all of the fans, the sponsors, the donors, the athletic department has given,” Pannone said. 

Pannone has already begun to build a staff at Arkansas State. On the suggestion of his predecessor, Pannone hired assistant coach Hayden Sowers. “I got the job and he texted me saying ‘Hey. Sowers. Hire him. Don’t screw this up. I didn’t know Hayden, never talked to him and never spoke to him but Bryan recommended him really, really well,” Pannone said.

Sowers was most recently the head coach of the South Plains Texans, a junior college in Levelland, Texas. The Texans made a Final Four run in the NJCAA Tournament as the 7-seed before falling to Connors State, a school on a Cinderella run as a 17-seed. Sowers also has experience in the SEC as a grad assistant at Ole Miss.

Pannone also hired assistant coach Max Thorpe. Thorpe is quite young, as he played at guard for the Florida State Seminoles just two seasons ago. Thorpe was on the staff at Alabama as a graduate assistant last season.

In terms of recruiting players, Pannone has big plans in that department too. 

During his coaching career, Pannone has coached all around the world, from China to Israel and from South Korea to Germany. He said these international coaching jobs shaped who he is as a person more than anything and he plans to recruit international players for the team.

“I’ve always said when I became a college head coach, I was going to build a team with multiple international players,” Pannone said, “I’ve got the relationships. We’re going to be able to do that. What is really cool is when you’re in a community that also wants it.”

Pannone also said he’s looking to retain players from this season. The proof of this was present in the press conference room, as A-State guard Derrian Ford made an appearance for the event.

Pannone said his coaching style is about confidence and belief. 

“You can’t play fast and open and free if guys don’t have the confidence, they don’t believe the game is full of mistakes. Basketball is a game full of mistakes. I will make mistakes,” Pannone said, “Our goal is to help them make less mistakes. But when players have to worry constantly about making mistakes, they can’t play with confidence.”

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