Coach Bryant Pagan II has recently taken over as head coach for the Rocket Men’s Basketball team. Pagan graduated from Hampton University, earning his Bachelor of Science in Business Management. After graduating from Hampton University, from 2011-2014 Coach, Pagan served as an Assistant Coach for PG County’s 4A South Division- Laurel High School Boys Varsity and Junior Varsity basketball programs in Laurel, Maryland, alongside Torrence Oxendine and William West Jr. A PG County, Maryland native and an Alumni and former 4-Year Varsity basketball player at Laurel High School (Class of 2006), Pagan emphasized and focused on skill development, strength & conditioning while preparing numerous student-athletes for the next level.

In the fall of 2014, Pagan moved to Houston, TX, where he began to coach with numerous high-level AAU Grassroots Boys Basketball programs. His most impactful stretch was from 2018 to 2020 with COOZ Elite Sports, an independent AAU organization based out of 3^rd Ward Houston, Tx, created by Wichita State standout PJ Couisnard. With COOZ Elite, he served as the Associate Head Coach for their National Premier 17U team, Head Coach for their Secondary 17U National team serving the classes of 2019, 2020, and 2021, and Program Director of Operations for the organization. Summer of 2019, Pagan coached on the COOZ Elite Under Armour Rise 17U National team that finished runner-up in the UA Rise National Championship in Atlanta, GA.  In Houston, Pagan has contributed to the development of several players on numerous levels, including Overseas Professionals, NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, JUCO, One NBPA TOP 100 Class of 2020, and a McDonald’s All-American Honorable Mention.

On the collegiate level, Coach Pagan served in the Associate Head Coach Position under the guidance of Coach Robert Byrd. At The University of Arkansas Cossatot Community College, where they produced: (2021-2022): Men’s Basketball (17-10, 5-5), 4 NJCAA D1 wins, Terry Anderson NJCAA D2 All-American (2X), Region 2 Player of the year and 1st Team All-Region, Dalon Dean 2nd Team All-Region. Women’s Basketball (9-14, 1-9), 2 D1 NJCAA wins. (2020-2021): Men’s Basketball (11-7, 6-4) Region 2 #3 seed, Semifinal appearance, first postseason win in program history. Terry Anderson NJCAA D2 All-American (Top 25 JUCO Player in the Nation), Region 2 Player of the year, and 1st Team All-Region. Women’s Basketball (5-11, 3-7) Region 2 #5 seed, Semifinal appearance, first postseason wins in program history. A’nayzia Jefferson All Region 2nd team. Kayla Fuller NJCAA Region 2 Conference Leading Scorer. Most recently, he served as the Rocket Assistant Coach of the SAU Tech Rocket Men’s Basketball team.

When asked for a comment, Pagan said, “I am extremely humbled and honored to serve as the Interim Head Men’s Basketball Coach and be a part of such a competitive organization that is rich in history here at Southern Arkansas University Tech. This institution embodies accountability and hard work as a collective community, and I am more than excited to return for my second season in my new role. We look forward to the support of our outstanding community as we embark on the journey of continuing the legacy once set before. Go Rockets!”