Wichita State University announced this week that Sam Kearns will assume the role of Director of Player Development for its men’s basketball program, effective with the 2026‑27 season.
Kearns arrives after a season as an assistant coach at East Central University, where he helped shape defensive strategies and mentored several emerging players.
Before that, he spent two years as a graduate assistant at Texas A&M–Corpus Christi, collaborating on shooting‑focused training programs that powered back‑to‑back 20‑win campaigns and secured the program’s first playoff appearance in six years.
His coaching résumé also includes a stint with The Covenant School, where his contributions helped the team break a long‑standing playoff drought.
Off the court, Kearns has built a reputation as a personal skills trainer, most notably working with WNBA star Arike Ogunbowale to refine her game.
As a player, he served three years as team captain at Oral Roberts University and later turned professional, competing for the Owensboro Thoroughbreds and the KW Titans.
Kearns holds a bachelor’s degree in Sports Management from Oral Roberts and an MBA from Texas A&M–Corpus Christi, blending academic insight with hands‑on basketball experience.
A Strategic Addition for the Program
Athletic director Paul Mills praised the hire, noting that Kearns’ blend of coaching acumen and player development expertise aligns perfectly with the Shockers’ ambition to compete at the highest level.