Coaches Kurt Budke and Miranda Serna die in crash
Its yet another devastating event for the Oklahoma State Family. Coach Kurt Budke, who was commencing his seventh season at the helm of the Women's Cowboy Basketball team, and Assistant Coach, Miranda Serna, died a day earlier in a plane crash. OK State seemingly cant avoid these horrible events. On January 27, 2001, a plane carrying Oklahoma State coaches and players crashed in a snow storm in Colorado. Shortly after this event, the university demanded that from that day forward all planes carrying Oklahoma State athletes be inspected thoroughly before take off.
It was reported that the two coaches were traveling on a recruiting trip to Little Rock to watch some prospective athletes. Budke had compiled a 112-83 record while the head coach and three trips to the NCAA tournament. He turned a team that finished at the bottom of the conference each year a team to be reckoned with each season. Last season, Kurt led the lady Cowboys to their most successful season ever, advancing to the second round of the NCAA tournament. Throughout the day Friday, there was press conferences held where an immense amount of emotion was shown by each individual that had spoken.
Kurt Budke would bring his new recruits into the facility where the team would play all of there games and the first thing he would do was walk them out to center court, raise his hands and say, "Look at this place, I love this place."
That place loved you back, Coach.
This is a devestating loss for the OK State community. It is great to see the progress that was made within the program since Coach Budke began coaching. With all the success or the recent years it makes you wonder how much more success he could have brought to the program. Thoughts and prayers go out to this community and especially the team. It will be interesting to see how these women perform throughtout the season.
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