University of Tennessee Athletics
STEVE FORBES JOINS BASKETBALL COACHING STAFF
May 26, 2006 | Men's Basketball
May 26, 2006
University of Tennessee head coach Bruce Pearl announced today that Steve Forbes has joined the basketball staff as an assistant coach.
"I have known Steve for more than 20 years," Pearl said. "We've been trying to find a way to work together for a long time. Last year we talked about coming to Tennessee but he had just gotten settled in at Texas A&M. Steve is a great professional. He's solid and experienced in all areas including recruiting and coaching."
Forbes comes to Tennessee after spending the last two seasons at Texas A&M where he helped turn the Aggies from a team that had posted a 7-21 record the previous season and hadn't received a postseason invitation in 11 years to a program that has averaged more than 21 wins over the last two seasons and advanced to postseason play in each of his two years. Picked to finish last in the Big 12 Conference prior to the 2004-05 season, the Aggies won their first 11 games and went on to a 21-10 record and made an appearance in the National Invitation Tournament. In 2005-06 Texas A&M advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1987 while recording a 22-9 record, the third-most wins in school history. The Aggies defeated Syracuse in the first round of the NCAA Tournament before falling to eventual Final Four participant LSU on a last second shot.
Texas A&M's recruiting also benefitted from Forbes experience as each of the Aggie's two recruiting classes during his time in College Station were ranked among the top 10 in the nation.
Before joining Billy Gillispie's coaching staff at Texas A&M, Forbes coached at Illinois State (2003-04) and spent three years at Louisiana Tech (2000-03) where he helped sign two nationally-ranked recruiting classes, including a top 10 class in 2003. In 2002 the Bulldogs posted a 22-10 record and went 2-1 in the National Invitation Tournament, their first postseason tournament in 10 years.
In 1998 Forbes joined the Idaho coaching staff as an assistant coach before being promoted to associate head coach for the 1998-99 season. In his first season in Moscow, Idaho, the Vandals improved to 16-11 on the season while they signed a nationally-ranked recruiting class.
Forbes compiled a 68-28 record in three years (1995-98) as the head coach at Barton County Community College in Great Bend, Kan. During his three seasons competing in the Jayhawk Conference, the Cougars produced three All-Americas, finished the season with a national ranking two times and earned victories over 15 nationally-ranked teams. In 1995-96 Forbes led the Cougars to a Jayhawk Conference Western Division title with a 29-4 record. Prior to being elevated to the head coaching post at Barton, Forbes spent two seasons (1993-95) as an assistant coach for the Cougars.
After spending two years (1989-91) as an assistant coach at Southwestern Community College in Creston, Iowa, Forbes was promoted to head coach in March 1991. In his two seasons as head coach (1991-93) he led the Spartans to a 36-27 record.
Two of Forbes players have gone on to be drafted by the National Basketball Association. Aleksandar Radojevic, who played at Barton County, was the 12th overall selection by the Toronto Raptors in the 1999 NBA Draft and Kaniel Dickens, who played at Idaho, was a second round selection of the Utah Jazz in 2000.
A native of Lone Tree, Iowa, Forbes graduated from Southern Arkansas University in secondary education in 1988. A former baseball player for the Muleriders, Forbes spent one year at his alma mater as the sports information director before embarking on a coaching career.
Forbes and his wife, Johnetta, have a daughter, Elizabeth, and two sons, Christopher and Jonathan.
