“Popular staff member makes welcome return” was an article originally published in the October 9, 2001 edition of The Trend.

The ever-popular coach Vinson Metcalf, is back and ready to help lead the men’s basketball team in what promises to be a season filled with great expectations.

Metcalf is no stranger to either the Drovers or the pressures of top-flight college basketball. Metcalf is in his second stint as assistant coach to the men’s team and helped recruit many of the great players who performed so well last year.

Metcalf says he is glad to be back and relishes the opportunity to work alongdside his good friend and mentor Head Coach Brisco McPherson.

“To be back with the kids and McPherson is truly unbelieveable,” says Metcalf. “He [McPherson] is a true role model of mine and a big idol, for that matter.”

Metcalf met McPherson in 1988 and took and instant liking to his style both on and off the hardwood floor.

“It’s great to be part of the program here,” says Metcalf. “Brisco allows me to work and have my own responsibilities.”

He says he likes McPherson’s coaching style so much that he would follow it if he had his own program.

Metcalf who spent last year as an assistant coach at Southern University in Baton Rouge, L.A., says he never actually wanted to leave what he calls the “family environment” here at USAO.

“In this profession, things can lure you away, things such as money and better location,” hey says. “For me, it was the chance to be nearer to my family back in Lousiana.”

Metcalf says he missed being part of the Drover setup last year, especially their getting so close to a national tite.

“I ran Brisco almost every day and looked out for all the results on the internet,” he says.

Admitting that he is really looking forward to the new season, he says they are very anxious to pick up where they left off last semester. He says the team will find it hard to replace Adrian “A.D.” Anderson, who graduated this past spring.

“A.D. was the glue that gelled the team together,” he says. “He made a great impact and will be sorely missed.”

In Metcalf’s eyes, the future is hard to see, but he is looking forward to a great year. When asked how long it took him to decide to come back to Oklahoma, he smiles, sits back in his chair, and says, “I just clicked my heels together three times and said there’s no place like home.”