David Ragland

Head Coach

David Ragland was named the 16th head men’s basketball coach in University of Evansville history on May 24, 2022.  The announcement of the 8th Division I head coach in Purple Aces history was made by Director of Athletics Dr. Kenneth “Ziggy” Siegfried.

In a coaching career that has spanned nearly two decades, Ragland’s experience has seen him contribute to an impressive group of programs that includes Butler, Utah State, Valparaiso, Vincennes, Northern Kentucky, Bowling Green, Indiana State, and Frank Phillips College.  He joins the Evansville program following a 1-year stint as an assistant coach at Butler University.

Prior to his tenure with the Bulldogs, Ragland enjoyed a successful tenure at Utah State where his squads achieved at least 20 wins in each of his three seasons while finishing with an overall mark of 74-24.  The Aggies made two NCAA Tournament appearances during his tenure while the 2019-20 squad posted a 26-8 mark before the postseason was canceled due to COVID-19.

Ragland has worked at two current Missouri Valley Conference institutions, including a 2-year stint at Valparaiso.  His first season with the program saw them accumulated 24 victories in 2016-17 while finishing with a Horizon League regular season championship and a spot in the postseason NIT.  Highlighting the roster for VU was Horizon League Player of the Year Alec Peters, who was the 54th pick in the 2017 NBA Draft.

From 2010 through 2014, Ragland was an assistant coach at Indiana State where the Sycamores put forth one of the top stretches by a mid-major program in recent memory.  ISU recorded 80 victories along with four postseason appearances, including a spot in the NCAA Tournament in 2010-11.  Ragland was an assistant at Northern Kentucky (2015-16) and Bowling Green (2014-15) following his stint with the Sycamores.  He contributed to a 24-11 mark at NKU, which included an NCAA Tournament berth.

His first head coaching opportunity came at Vincennes University where he led the Trailblazers to a 44-19 record in two years at the helm.  The 2009-10 campaign saw them post a 22-10 mark and a run that took the program to the NJCAA District Tournament Finals.  Ragland opened his coaching career at Frank Phillips College where he was part of a squad that went 25-5 in 2004-05.

Graduating from Harrison High School, Ragland was named an All-State Honorable Mention basketball player. He began his collegiate career at Missouri Southern State College in Joplin, where his team went on to the NCAA Division II Final Four during his freshman year. Following his sophomore year, he transferred to the University of Sothern Indiana where he played two seasons, propelling the Screaming Eagles to a total of 47 victories and leading the team in assists both years.

Ragland and his wife, Annie, have two children: Ava and Joshua.