Missouri State West Plains Interviews 3 Basketball Coach Candidates

The university will hold open forums for the public to meet the finalists next week.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 9:06pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a fragmented basketball game, with sharp planes of color and overlapping perspectives, conveying the complex process of selecting a new head coach.The search for a new head coach for the Missouri State University-West Plains basketball team involves engaging the community through open forums with the finalists.Big Spring Today

Missouri State University-West Plains will interview three candidates for the men's basketball head coaching position next week following the departure of Jared Phay, the school's Director of Grizzly Athletics announced. The candidates include Dillon Hargrove from McCook Community College, Tyrone Brazelton from Howard College, and John Pigatti from South Suburban College. Campus and community members will have the opportunity to meet the candidates at open forums during the interview times.

Why it matters

The West Plains Grizzlies basketball program is an important part of the local community, and the new head coach will be tasked with continuing the team's success and engaging with fans and supporters. The public forums allow the community to get to know the finalists and provide feedback to the university.

The details

The interview schedule is as follows: Dillon Hargrove, head coach at McCook Community College, will interview from noon to 12:30 p.m. on Monday, April 6; Tyrone Brazelton, assistant coach at Howard College, will interview from 4:30 to 5 p.m. on Monday, April 6; and John Pigatti, head coach at South Suburban College, will interview from 4:30 to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, April 7. All interviews will take place in Lybyer Hall, Room 205 on the Missouri State University-West Plains campus.

  • The interviews will take place next week, from April 6-7, 2026.
  • A hiring decision is expected to be made soon after the interviews.

The players

Dillon Hargrove

Head coach at McCook Community College in McCook, Nebraska.

Tyrone Brazelton

Assistant coach at Howard College in Big Spring, Texas.

John Pigatti

Head coach at South Suburban College in South Holland, Illinois.

Jared Phay

Former Director of Grizzly Athletics at Missouri State University-West Plains.

Rachel Peterson

Current Director of Grizzly Athletics at Missouri State University-West Plains.

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What they’re saying

“Campus and community members will have the opportunity to meet the candidates at open forums during these times.”

— Rachel Peterson, Director of Grizzly Athletics

What’s next

A hiring decision will be made soon and will be subject to approval by the Missouri State University Board of Governors.

The takeaway

The search for the new West Plains Grizzlies men's basketball head coach has reached the final stage, with the university providing the public a chance to engage with the finalists and offer feedback before a decision is made. The new coach will be tasked with continuing the program's success and connecting with the local community.