New faces on the court

Calamity McEntire


Drew Champagne

By Brian Risso
Athletic Media Relations

Fresno State head women's basketball coach Stacy Johnson-Klein has announced the hiring of Drew Champagne and Calamity McEntire as assistant coaches.

Champagne, who spent last season with the women’s basketball team as the head manager, begins his first season as assistant coach.

During the 2003-04 season, Champagne was responsible for film exchange, monitoring academic progress of student-athletes, assistance with scheduling and other administrative responsibilities. Champagne, a native of Norwich, Conn., also helped direct Bulldog basketball camps and aided in team travel, recruiting and fund raising.

In addition to head coach Stacy Johnson-Klein and current assistant coach Adrian Wiggins, Champagne is the third member of the Bulldog coaching staff to have either coached or played at Cameron University in Lawton, Okla.

Champagne, who earned his bachelor's degree in communications from Cameron in 2003, lettered season in men's basketball at Cameron in 1999-2000. He then served as a student assistant with the program and followed that with a one-year tenure as a graduate assistant.

Champagne served four years in the U.S. Army, including a one-year stint in Korea. His wife Jessica also is from Lawton, Okla.

"Drew Champagne has earned my respect as I have watched his growth and work ethic while at both programs” (Cameron University and Fresno State), Johnson-Klein said. "He is extremely disciplined and his loyalty will be a valuable asset to our program."

McEntire comes to Fresno State after spending one season as manager for the University of Tennessee women's basketball team. A native of Canadian, Okla., she also worked as a manager for the University of Tennessee women's basketball program from 2001-03. During her two-year tenure with the Lady Vols, McEntire oversaw equipment operations, helped with fundraising and marketing efforts and assisted the coaching staff in areas such as recruit planning, monitoring academic progress of student athletes and additional administrative duties.

In addition, McEntire served as equipment manager and gym director for Pat Summitt Summer Basketball Camps for three summers. McEntire, who graduated from Tennessee with a degree in education/sport management in 2003, also played two seasons at Eastern Oklahoma State University (EOSU) where she led the Mountaineers to a Regional II Championship and No. 4 national ranking.

McEntire served as a student assistant coach for a half-season at EOSU and coached at the AAU level for one season in Canadian, Okla.