Men’s Basketball Hires Assistant Coaches

RIO GRANDE VALLEY – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) head men’s basketball coach Kahil Fennell announced on Thursday the hiring of Bertram “Buzzy” Caruthers and Daniel Venzant as assistant coaches.

Bertram “Buzzy” Caruthers

Caruthers helped Missouri State to 34 wins over the last two seasons, including 19 of them at home which helped extend the program’s consecutive winning seasons at home to 54 straight.

Last season, Caruthers guided Alston Mason to All-Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) honors as he led the Bears and ranked third in the MVC with 17.6 points per game. Caruthers also helped Cesare Edwards MVC All-Bench Team honors after playing in all 31 games and averaging 7.6 points and 4.9 rebounds per game.

In his first season with Missouri State, Caruthers helped Donovan Clay to All-MVC Second Team and MVC All-Defensive Team honors after leading the team with 11.9 points and 5.5 rebounds per game. Caruthers also guided Chance Moore to MVC All-Bench Team honors after he averaged 10.6 points in 31 games.

“We are incredibly excited to have Coach Caruthers join our staff,” Fennell said. “He brings a wealth of experience starting at the grass roots level. If you take a look at his career and the way he has worked his way up in this business, he has been truly impressive and has been successful at every stop. To bring in someone with his experience and know how, the relationships he has built throughout the country, he will be a huge boost to us in recruiting and the player development standpoint. We are thrilled to have him.”

Prior to his two years at Missouri State, Caruthers spent three seasons (2019-22) at Nebraska, under Fred Hoiberg, as the director of player development. Caruthers filled several roles in the day-to-day operations and spent some time as an analyst for Nebraska basketball games on B1G+.

“I am excited to join the UTRGV family,” Caruthers said. “I am excited to be in the Rio Grande Valley and I look forward to helping this program win a lot of games.”

Before joining the staff at Nebraska, Caruthers spent a season (2018-19) as an assistant coach at Maryville University. Caruthers also spent two seasons (2016-18) at Lincoln University where he helped the program to consecutive appearances to the MIAA Tournament.

Caruthers got his first taste of Division I coaching after spending the 2016 summer at St. John’s as a graduate assistant before also having stints at Butler County Community College (2015-16), Chipola College (2014-15), and Dodge City Community College (2012-14). Throughout his time at the junior college level, Caruthers coached and developed 20 student-athletes that went on to play at the Division I or Division II levels, including eight all-conference selections.

Caruthers started his coaching career at the high school level, helping Barstow High School (2007-11) to a program record 24 wins. Caruthers was also a founding member of MoKan Elite as he helped create one of the top programs in the nation. Caruthers had stint at his alma mater Sumner Academy of Arts and Science (2011-12) where he helped the program to a league title.

As a player, Caruthers helped Sumner Academy to two state championships in Kansas before going to Hampton University to earn a Bachelor of Science in Finance in 2006.

Daniel Venzant

Venzant helped Liberty to 18 wins last season, including 12 wins coming at home. Venzant focused on the on-court individual development of the student-athletes while managing the scout team.

Venzant helped guide Kyle Rode and Zach Cleveland to All-CUSA Second Team honors, Kaden Metheny to All-CUSA Third Team honors, and his brother Joseph Venzant to CUSA All-Defensive Team honors.

“We’re thrilled to have Daniel join us on our staff,” Fennell said. “He brings great energy as well as a high-level talent for player development, particularly with our back court players. His experience as a player professionally overseas, coupled with his Texas roots, makes Daniel a terrific fit for us at UTRGV.”

Prior to joining the staff at Liberty, Venzant played professionally in Mexico, Poland, and Macedonia upon wrapping up his collegiate career.

Venzant started his collegiate career at Cal State Fullerton where he played in 24 games as a freshman, averaging 5.8 minutes per game, and helped the program to a Big West Tournament Championship. After redshirting the 2018-19 season, Venzant played in 26 games as a redshirt sophomore and made seven starts and averaged 10.8 minutes per game.

Venzant then transferred to St. Edward’s University where he played two seasons to wrap up his career. Venzant played and started in 20 games in 2020-21 averaging 18.0 points and 5.7 assists per game en route to Lone Star Conference Second Team honors and LSC All-Tournament Team honors.

In 2021-22, Venzant played and started in 29 games averaging 16.8 points, 4.9 assists, and 3.2 rebounds per game as he earned Lone Star Conference Second Team honors for the second time.

“I am excited and thankful for the opportunity to be a part of Coach Fennell’s program and staff here at UTRGV,” Venzant said. “I can’t wait to get started and be a part of something special here in the Rio Grande Valley!”

Venzant earned his Bachelor of Arts Administration in Sociology from St. Edward’s in 2022.