05/25/2022
UA Cossatot head basketball coach and athletic director Robert Byrd, has accepted the head basketball coaching position at Coastal Bend College in Beeville, Texas.
Reflecting on his time spent at UAC, Coach Byrd said, "This is definitely a bittersweet day for me. I have thoroughly enjoyed my two years here at UA Cossatot and I am grateful for the hospitality and love that has been shown to me and my family. I want to thank Dr. Cole for his support and leadership, we were able to make major strides in a short time because of this. I know I am missing some names as the support we received was astronomical. Special thanks to Loren, Jon, Lauren, Beverly, Erika, Wendy, Eda, Dustin, TJ, Brad, Leslie and all of the faculty and staff members and the entire community for your support and always going above and beyond for the betterment of our students athletes. I believe that a solid foundation is in place and that athletics will continue to flourish at UA Cossatot."
In announcing Coach Byrd's career move, UAC Chancellor, Dr. Steve Cole said, " Coach Byrd came along at the perfect time, a time when we needed someone to help us build a fledgeling program, and he did just that. He will have success wherever he goes. Another one of the great things he did was bringing Assistant Coach Bryant Pagan along with him to UA Cossatot. We now get to reap those benefits as Coach Pagan will be a natural fit to be our new Athletic Director and Head Basketball Coach. We are excited that Coach Pagan will be leading all of our Athletic Programs to even greater heights. The greatest benefactors of this move will be our student athletes, as they will still be with a familiar face and style. The C**ts will continue playing at a championship level and we look forward to what the future holds!"
In his remarks regarding the C**ts basketball coaching change, Coach Pagan was both thankful for his two years of working with Coach Byrd at UAC, and optimistic about the future of the athletic programs at Cossatot. "I am extremely humbled and honored with this opportunity to serve our beloved University of Arkansas Cossatot Community College, as well as the surrounding communities in the role of Head Basketball Coach an Athletic Director. I aim to make this a smooth transition from the phenomenal job done by Coach Robert Byrd. I cannot thank Coach Byrd enough for his tutelage and the faith he has given and shown me over the past few years with our C**ts & Lady C**ts programs. I want to thank Dr. Cole and the rest of the UA Cossatot staff for their unsurmountable support as we prepare for the future. We as an organization will continue to strive for academic excellence, community cultivation, and to compete on a very high level on the basketball court within our conference and beyond. Let's Go C**ts & Lady C**ts !!!"
Coach Byrd's last day at UAC will be June 10th. Coach Byrd, Coach Pagan, and the UA Cossatot administration believe the transition will be a smooth process.
