Wichita State gives ex-Tennessee assistant second chance
Steve Forbes is getting a second chance.
For the past two years, Forbes, a former assistant at Tennessee under Bruce Pearl, has coached at a Florida junior college. Forbes, along with Pearl and two other Volunteer assistant coaches were fired in March 2011 amid a recruiting scandal and cover-up.
Forbes is the first of those coaches to land an NCAA coaching job. Pearl is currently a college basketball analyst with ESPN.
"I was so excited and honored when coach Marshall asked me to join his staff," Forbes told CBSSports.com. "Coach Marshall is one of the top coaches in college basketball -- proving that with a historical run to the Final Four this past year. I have so much respect for him. In addition, I have a lifelong friendship with associate head coach Chris Jans and assistant coach Greg Heiar. So I'm thrilled to be working with such a talented staff and group of coaches that I have the utmost respect for."
Wichita State advanced to the Final Four this past season where the Shockers lost to eventual champion Louisville.
Forbes spent the past two years coaching junior college at Northwest Florida State where he led the Raiders to consecutive appearances in the national title game while posting a 62-6 record, CBSSports.com reported. His best player from those teams, Chris Jones, is set to enroll at Louisville and replace Peyton Siva as the Cardinals' starting point guard.
"I'm indebted to coach Marshall and the WSU administration for believing in me," said Forbes, who was, before Tennessee, an assistant at Illinois State, Louisiana Tech and Texas A&M.
