OSU coach Kurt Budke, assistant coach Miranda Serna killed in plane crash
Friday, November 18, 2011
For more photo's from Memorial Service click here
In his remarks, OSU President Burns Hargis noted that “All four spent their lives
doing what they loved to do. For the Branstetters—aviation, and for Kurt and Miranda,
it was basketball.”
Hargis said, “Coaches are lucky, they have a record. But I submit the record is not
just the wins and losses, it’s the people they influenced and taught. The productive
lives of their players are more important than the wins. The coaches we all cherish
are the ones that taught us to believe in ourselves.
“Paula and Olin Branstetter and all their children were not only graduates of OSU,
but longtime supporters of our programs,” said Hargis. “They have established scholarships
in aviation and business that have enabled many students to achieve their dreams.”
Jim Littell, who has been named interim head coach for the Cowgirls, described his
colleague Serna by saying, “Miranda had a passion for life and loved people. She made
everyone feel special. She was a tireless recruiter who was loyal to coach Budke and
the Cowgirls.”
Littell said his long-time friend Budke set a great example by putting his faith,
family and his coaching in proper perspective. He talked about the impact he had
on his extended Cowgirl family. He also told stories that spoke to Budke’s competitive
fire.
Former Cowgirl player Taylor Hardeman credited Budke with the team’s success and
called him “a father figure to us all.”
Hargis announced that scholarships had been established in the names of all those
who had been lost in the tragedy.
Among those in attendance were Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin, Boone Pickens, as well
as most current OSU athletes and many former players and staff from the schools where
Budke coached.
The OSU Athletic Council issued the following statement: “We offer our heartfelt condolences
to everyone affected by this tragedy, especially to the families of those lost. Coaches
Budke and Serna were a credit to their profession and we are very grateful for the
positive influence they had on the scholar-athletes they educated during their time
at OSU. The Branstetters were loyal and true alums and their legacy at OSU will live
on. These four individuals are a part of the OSU family, and they will be greatly
missed.”
The OSU Student Government Association will host a candle light vigil at 8 p.m. at
Chi-O clock tonight, Monday, Nov. 21. The Chi-O clock is located between the Student
Union and the Classroom Building. SGA invites the OSU family to join in the vigil
which will commemorate a new tradition to remember these four wonderful individuals.
Orange wreaths will be place annually on the Chi-O clock in their honor.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW LIVE BROADCAST OF MEMORIAL SERVICE - Nov. 21 at 1 p.m.
Click here to sign the guest book for the Memorial Service
UPDATE | 6 p.m. | November 20
The Oklahoma State University Student Government Association will host a candle light vigil at 8 p.m. at chi-o clock on Monday, November 21. Chi-o clock is located between the Student Union and the Classroom Building. SGA invites the OSU family to join in the candle lighting vigil to remember Kurt Budke, Miranda Serna, Olin Branstetter and Paula Branstetter. The vigil will commemorate a new tradition at Oklahoma State University to remember these four wonderful individuals. Orange wreaths will be placed annually on Chi-O Clock in their honor.
UPDATE | 6:30 p.m. | November 18
Memorial service set for Monday; 12:30 p.m., 1:30 p.m. classes canceled
Oklahoma State University will hold a memorial service on Monday, Nov. 21 at 1 p.m. to honor the lives of OSU Women’s Basketball Coach Kurt Budke, Assistant Coach Miranda Serna and OSU alumni Olin and Paula Branstetter.
The service is open to the public.
Monday classes held between 12:30-2:30 p.m. are being canceled in order for the university community to attend the memorial service. Classes beginning at 2:30 p.m. will still be held. Instructors are asked to make up for the missed material in an appropriate way at a later date.
The campus remains open, but as appropriate, faculty and staff are encouraged to attend.
UPDATE | 3:15 p.m. | November 18
Statement from T. Boone Pickens on Cowgirl Basketball tragedy
“This is a sad day for OSU Cowboy Nation. I’m stunned and saddened that another tragedy has hit our basketball program. My heart goes out to so many… Kurt Budke’s and Miranda Serna’s families as well as the members of the OSU Women’s Basketball team who have been touched by their passionate commitment to sportsmanship, competition and un unwavering focus on responsibility. I grew to know and respect Coach Budke during his seven-year coaching history at OSU. His star burned bright and his loss will sadden yet strengthen the University for generations to come."
UPDATE | 3:05 p.m. | November 18
Statement from Coach Mike Gundy on Cowgirl Basketball tragedy
"We are very sad to learn of the death of Coach Budke and Coach Serna. We are a tight family at OSU. Our coaches are very close, and we pull for each other. They both always had encouraging words and were excited about our season. Our prayers go out to the families and team."
UPDATE | 2:15p.m. | November 18
Oklahoma State University women’s basketball coach Kurt Budke and assistant women’s
basketball coach Miranda Serna were killed along with two others Thursday night in
a plane crash in Perry County, Arkansas.
Budke and Serna were on a recruiting trip to Arkansas. The other two individuals,
including the pilot, were not employed by the university. There were no survivors.
“The Oklahoma State family is devastated by this tragedy,” said OSU President Burns
Hargis. “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,” Hargis said. “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.
“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.”
“Miranda was an up-and-coming coach and an outstanding role model for our young ladies.”
Mike Holder, OSU vice president for athletics, said, “We are shocked by this terrible
loss. Kurt Budke was an incredibly positive influence on his players and was a tremendous
coach. He quickly turned our program around and put Cowgirl basketball on the map.
Miranda was a tireless worker and great recruiter.”
Holder said Jim Littell, associate head coach, would assume duties as interim head
coach. The university announced the Cowgirls will not play games scheduled Saturday
and Sunday. OSU counselors and athletic staff are offering assistance to the Cowgirl
student-athletes and staff.
Budke was in his seventh season as Cowgirl coach, with an all-time record of 112-83.
His team was 1-0 after a convincing victory over Rice Sunday. Under his direction,
OSU made postseason appearances each of the past five seasons, including three trips
to the NCAA tournament.
In the 2009-10 season, the Cowgirls won 24 games, including a school-record six victories
against Top 25 teams, achieved a top-10 national ranking for the first time ever and
reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Budke transformed a program that endured a winless conference season in 2005-06 into
a league title contender and NCAA Sweet 16 participant just two years later.
Before coming to OSU in 2005, Budke was a head coach for 12 seasons at Allen County
(Ks.) Community College, Trinity Valley (Tx.) Community College and Louisiana Tech.
His career record as a head coach was 465-130. Budke started coaching in 1984 as a
graduate assistant at Washburn University before taking an assistant coaching position
at Friends University.
A Salina, Kan., native, Budke earned all-conference honors as a player at Barton
County (Ks.) Junior College in 1981. Budke was born June 3, 1961 and is married to
the former Shelley Balthazor. They have three children; Sara, who is a student at
OSU, Alex and Brett.
Miranda Serna was in her seventh season as an assistant coach at Oklahoma State.
She previously worked in the same capacity at Louisiana Tech under Budke.
Serna helped guide the resurgence of the OSU women’s basketball as the program's
recruiting coordinator. As a player, the Guadalupita, N.M. native helped lead Trinity
Valley Community College to the NJCAA national title in 1996 and finished her collegiate
career at Houston.