FORMER FLORIDA ASSISTANT TOM OSTROM JOINS JAGUAR HOOPS STAFF

MOBILE, Ala.- University of South Alabama men's basketball head coach John Pelphrey has announced the hiring of Tom Ostrom as assistant coach.

Ostrom joins the Jaguar program following seven seasons of working with coach Billy Donovan at the University of Florida. Ostrom, a Minnesota native, was elevated to assistant coach for the Gators in Spring 2002 after serving five seasons as an administrative assistant/video coordinator. He played an integral role during Florida's 2000 run to the NCAA Tournament championship game.

"I'm really excited to have the opportunity to work with a wonderful person and an outstanding coach in John Pelphrey at a program that is on the rise in the Sun Belt Conference," Ostrom said. "Pelphrey has played a big part in my growth and development as a coach and as a person."

A 1997 University of Minnesota graduate, Ostrom served as a student manager for the Golden Gophers men's basketball team from 1989-93 following a four-year high school playing career at Bethlehem Academy in Faribault, Minn.

Ostrom takes over for Jorge Fernandez who accepted an assistant coaching position at the University of Miami.

"I'm very excited to have Tom Ostrom join our staff," Pelphrey said. "He brings a wealth of recruiting knowledge and contacts as well as a good understanding of our system because of our previous history together."


<a href='http://www.southalabama.edu/athletics/pressrelease/2004/07/release06mb.html' target='_blank'>LINK</a>