Drake's Phelps Names Ohl, Gibson and Richardson To His Staff

It's not true that Paul Morrison is required to give his approval before a new basketball coach is hired at Drake.

It just seems that way.

"Mark Phelps is the 15th head men's coach since I've been here," Morrison, a 1939 graduate of the university, said today. "That is, if you count Eddie Fields."

Fields coached the last few games of the 1989-90 season after Tom Abatemarco was fired.

Morrison, who is Drake's historian, is the only guy I know in the athletic department who's had a room named after him.

And it was in the Paul Morrison Room at the Knapp Center today where he and and assortment of the city's finest Internet, electronic and print journalists were meeting the new members of Phelps coaching staff.

They dined on turkey, beef and ham sandwiches and chips before going to work.

"I wish them all well," Morrison said of Justin Ohl, Kareem Richardson and Mike Gibson -- who will help Phelps try to keep the winning ways going after the 28-5 record produced in the 2007-2008 season by Keno Davis.

Ohl played for Drake, then was on Tom Davis' and Keno Davis' staffs at the university.

"Justin understands why Drake University and Drake basketball are special," said Phelps, who was named the Bulldogs' coach April 21. "He embodies those qualities we will search for as we recruit young men to Drake. I am impressed with his knowledge, integrity, passion, commitment and talent as a teacher, coach and recruiter."

Said Ohl, a native of Mason City: "I am extremely excited for the opportunity to work with coach Phelps. His character and desire for Drake and our program are evident."

Gibson and Phelps were both on Herb Sendek's staff at Arizona State.

Gibson had a 3.97 grade-point average at Carnegie Mellon University, which also was Sendek's alma mater. Gibson was a graduate assistant on Tom Izzo's staff at Michigan State in 2005-2006.

Richardson is familiar with the Missouri Valley Conference.

He was an assistant at Evansville from 2003-2007 and was on the Indiana State staff from 1999-2002. His most recent job was as the top assistant at Missouri-Kansas City.

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Sights from the Paul Morrison Room today as Drake basketball coach Mark Phelps introduced his staff: In the top photo, Morrison, Drake's longtime historian, is shown with Phelps, who has been the Bulldogs' coach since April 21. Below that, Mike Gibson [right] is interviewed by Drake radio play-by-play announcer Larry Cotlar; Justin Ohl [center] is a holdover from the Tom Davis and Keno Davis staffs, and Kareem Richardson is interviewed. At the right is Ron Maly with Paul Morrison.