Oklahoma State Coaches Die In Plane Crash
 

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Kurt Budke coached the Cowgirls for the past seven seasons.

November 18, 2011

Oklahoma State University says women's basketball coach Kurt Budke and assistant coach Miranda Serna were killed in a plane crash Thursday night in central Arkansas.

The two were returning from a recruiting trip in Arkansas when the plane crashed 45 miles outside of Little Rock near Perryville.

The plane's pilot and another passenger also died in the crash, according to a statement released by the school Friday morning.

“The Oklahoma State family is devastated by this tragedy,” OSU President Burns Hargis said. “Our hearts and prayers go out to the families of Kurt Budke, Miranda Serna and the other victims.

“Kurt was an exemplary leader and a man of character who had a profound impact on his student-athletes. He was an outstanding coach and a wonderful person. We send our deepest sympathies to his wife, Shelley, and their children, Sara, Alex and Brett."

The school also announced that the team's home games Saturday against Grambling State and Sunday against Texas-Arlington will not be played.
Budke was in his seventh season as Oklahoma State head coach, where he had amassed a career record of 112-83.

The Cowgirls opened the 2011-12 season last Sunday with a win over Rice.
Budke led the Cowgirls to the NCAA Tournament in three of the past five seasons.

“Coach Budke elevated our women’s basketball program to new levels of success,” Hargis said. “He and his staff raised our profile in the nation’s toughest conference.”

Serna was a part of Budke's staff since he came to OSU. She also served as the team's recruiting coordinator.
“Miranda was an up-and-coming coach and an outstanding role model for our young ladies,” Hargis said.

This is the second plane tragedy to hit the Oklahoma State family in the past 10 years.

In 2001, 10 members of the men's basketball program, both staff and players, were killed in a crash during a snowstorm in Colorado.