New Miami coach Owens rounds out his staff

Miami University head men’s basketball Jack Owens announced the hiring of his staff on Wednesday.

Joining the RedHawks as assistant coaches are Jeff Rutter, J.R. Reynolds and Kenneth Lowe, while the Director of Basketball Operations is Ryne Smith.

“This is going to be a top-level staff,” Owens said. “They are all different in their own ways, but I know they are going to come here each day and work hard to get our program to a championship level. Each guy is a great guy to be around. They are great family men and do things the right way. I’m excited to have each of them as they’ll each bring something unique to the table. We’ll have a lot of energy and be able to attack recruiting as well.”

Rutter comes to Miami with experience throughout the Midwest. He spent the past four seasons at Drake, first as an assistant coach and then serving the last half season as the interim head coach. He was the Bulldogs recruiting coordinator, helping sign five prospects in the fall of 2013. Two have gone on to earn a Drake Presidential Scholarship.

Prior to his time with Drake, Rutter also worked at Iowa State, Northern Iowa, North Dakota State, Stetson and Wisconsin-Parkside, where he was a head coach.

spent seven seasons at Iowa State. He also worked as a graduate assistant and full-time assistant at North Dakota State.

Reynolds comes to Miami from Eastern Illinois, where he spent the past four seasons as an assistant coach for his alma mater. Prior to his time at Eastern Illinois, Reynolds spent three seasons as a graduate assistant at Purdue, working alongside Owens. Reynolds began his coaching career as an assistant at Southeastern Illinois College.

Lowe spent the past four seasons as an assistant video coordinator at Purdue, his alma mater. Prior to returning to Purdue, Lowe played professionally overseas for nine seasons in Turkey, Germany, Hungary, Venezuela and then in Finland from 2009-13.

Smith also played at Purdue, where he was a four-year letterwinner from 2008-12. After completing his eligibility. Smith spent the 2012-13 season as a student-assistant coach under Matt Painter and Owens, helping put together game plans and scouting reports.

Smith has spent the past three seasons teaching and coaching prep basketball at Clinton Prairie and Anderson high schools in Indiana.

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