Wilmington grad Sharbaugh leading Mizzou Tigers as defensive coordinator

Nov. 25—A Lawrence County native will return to his home state of Pennsylvania on Tuesday, but he'll be focused on his team capturing a win over the Pittsburgh Panthers men's basketball team.

Ryan Sharbaugh, a 2004 Wilmington High graduate, is in his second year as an assistant coach for the University of Missouri's men's basketball team.

"We got three main returners back so we have a pretty blended rosters with several transfers, but we have some experience too. We're deep, we're very deep. We have 18 guys on the roster and we're just kind of learning to figure each other out still," Sharbaugh said of the Mizzou Tigers. "Even though it's the second time around we still have a long way to go. We have to build that cohesion on the floor. We're extremely connected, I think. Our culture has driven us. We just have to find a little rhythm with a large roster. I will say I think we've seen a lot of improvements defensively. I think that's where it really clicks. We've taken some steps and grown defensively."

A graduate of Westminster College in 2008, Sharbaugh serves as the defensive coordinator for the Tigers. He commented on what's working defensively and what still needs improved moving forward.

"What's working is we're a very solution-based team. Our guys do a pretty good job of protecting each other. We guard with five guys so we're connected on the defensive," Sharbaugh said. "What needs to improve is our defensive rebounding which has always been a struggle in our program. That's got to improve — our rebounding. Our system puts us at a disadvantage. Creating a few live ball turnovers, if we do that, that will kind of light a fire under our offensive. We like playing in transition. We're a fast-paced team. We need deflections, blocks, steals and to create a few live turnovers."

Turnovers are the main goal, according to the defensive coordinator. Sharbaugh also said the goal is to, "To make you uncomfortable, apply pressure and wear you down over forty minutes. That's really goal," adding, "Eliminate the coaches and eliminate plays for execution."

Sharbaugh helped take Mizzou to one its most successful seasons in his first year as an assistant coach. The Tigers finished their campaign as the second nationally ranked team with 10.2 steals per game, while leading all teams in the nation with a turnover margin of +5.8. Sharbaugh helped the Tigers collect its most wins in 11 seasons which was finished with the teams' first NCAA tournament victory in 13 years.

Last season, Mizzou completed its most successful year since joining the SEC by making an appearance in the conference semifinals.

As a whole, Sharbaugh said the most connected team wins and it's all based on the culture.

"We have to stay connected and we have to help each other. A lot of it is about how we respond to mistakes, to the good and to the bad. A lot of the times a teammate might have to intervene. Any type of turnover we connect. The two guys who turn it over have to dap each other up. The same goes with missed shots," Sharbaugh said. "We don't allow guys to hang their heads. We force some type of teammate connection to move to the next play. Thats evaluated every day, our connectivity and our daps. We want to win transitions when there's a loose ball. If there's a man on the floor we're the first ones to pick him up. We're the first to sprint into and out of the timeout huddle. It's all culture based."

Sharbaugh leads under the direction of head coach Dennis Gates. Gates and Sharbaugh met at Florida State University where Sharbaugh was working as a graduate assistant.

"I joined him there and just got to start learning. He kind of groomed me here and there with some projects and with certain workouts and players and scouting reports. That's where it started," Sharbaugh recalled. "I always tried to absorb as much as I could from him. After two years, he had helped me take my next step in the business and essentially directed me to Bradley (University)."

After two years at Bradley, Sharbaugh was thinking of moving on and taking a new step in his career before Gates told him to remain at the University. As Bradely's director of basketball operations from 2016-2019, Sharbaugh capped his final year with the University with the school winning its first Missouri Valley Conference title in 31 seasons.

Sharbaugh said Gates, "absolutely," helped shape his coaching career and philosophy, but credits Bill Brown as the catalyst.

"Where it started was with Bill Brown at Cal, PA. I took a GA spot down at Cal PA; my grandfather played there and is in the hall of fame, Sebastian Lonigro," Sharbaugh said. "They gave me a GA spot, but Bill brown, he passed away last year, he is my first mentor in basketball. He showed me the ropes, kind of encouraged me and was a sounding board heading up to Florida State."

Sharbaugh also credits Cal U's Jim Boone and Florida State's Leonard Hamilton for shaping his defensive coaching. A person that Sharbaugh helped shape was D'Moi Hodge at Cleveland State and the University of Missouri.

Hodge was named a finalist for the Lefty Driesell National Defensive Player of the Year with the Tigers after setting a school record of 91 swipes. Hodge was named the Horizon League Defensive Player of the year in 2022 and went on to sign a free-agent contract with the Los Angeles Lakers following his graduation.

Who on Mizzou's roster could be the next standout defensive player, according to Sharbaugh?

"I really think we've got a couple of guys," Sharbaugh said. "Tamar Bates, he's going to emerge as a really good defender. He'll have two years with us. I think by next year he should be in the mix for defensive player of the year. Anthony Robinson is a young freshman who has incredible hands. He has speed and quick hands like D'Moi Hodge. He's going to have a heck of a career."