Via Cloud County Community College Athletics
CONCORDIA, Kan. – Cloud County Community College Athletic Director Matt Bechard has announced the hiring of Kyle Pugh as the seventh men’s basketball coach in the program’s 58-year history and TJ Segebart as the 12th head softball coach in the program’s 54 year history following the approval of both hires at Thursday’s Board of Trustees meeting.
Both coaching hires come following the resignations of former coaches Devin Kastrup and Ed Deugan as both have decided to pursue other professional opportunities.
When asked about the hiring of Pugh, Bechard stated “We are all very excited to bring Kyle back home to lead our men’s basketball program.” “His incredible work ethic, relationship building skills, and care for his student-athletes is unmatched.”
Pugh rejoins the Cloud County Community College men’s basketball program following one year away at Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference school Hutchinson Community College where he served as an assistant under former Blue Dragon head coach Tommy Desalme where he helped HCC to a 29-7 overall record and appearance in the NJCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Elite Eight.
“I’m extremely excited to have been chosen to lead a program with the tradition of the Cloud County men’s basketball program” said Pugh. “Thank you to Athletic Director Matt Bechard, President Amber Knoettgen, the hiring committee, and the entire Cloud County family for entrusting me with this opportunity.” “I also want to thank my family and mentors who have instilled the values that we will work to uphold as a program on a daily basis.” “Cloud County Community College is a special place that I’m excited to work towards building a culture of toughness and togetherness at.”
Pugh was part of the T-Bird men’s basketball program for two seasons under former head coach Devin Kastrup and helped CCCC to 30 wins over his two seasons which included 21 wins in the KJCCC and a first-round home NJCAA Region VI Playoff game for the first time in four years. During the 2022-23 season, Cloud County started 10-3 with three wins over nationally-ranked foes to earn an NJCAA Division I Basketball National ranking for the first time since 2015 as the T-Birds went on to earn six wins over nationally-ranked opponents that season. While with the T-Birds, Pugh helped coach four All-KJCCC selections including KJCCC All-Defensive team member Joe Kearney in 2022-23 as CCCC led the league in scoring defense (67.1 points) and opponent field goal percentage (39.9 percent).
A 2018 graduate of the University of Illinois, Pugh joined the Jacksonville University men’s basketball staff that summer, and immediately continued a long line of successful and hard-working G.A.s within the Dolphin program. While at Jacksonville, Pugh spent time capturing practice and game footage, assembling pregame scouting reports, developing content for the team’s social media channels, and assisting with practice operations and travel logistics. Pugh was able to learn the college basketball coaching ropes from a staff that features nearly 50 years of coaching experience at the collegiate level including former T-Bird men’s basketball coach Chad Eshbaugh.
Prior to his time at JU, Pugh was a student manager at Illinois, working on the staffs of both John Groce and Brad Underwood. While with the Illini, he was responsible for assisting with individual workouts and tracking statistics in practice and games.
Regarding the hiring of Segebart, Bechard said “I’m excited for TJ as he begins a new chapter in his professional career as the head softball coach at Cloud County Community College.” “He has made a significant impact on the program this past season as an assistant coach and I’m looking forward to seeing his vision for the program going forward.”
Segebart rejoins the coaching ranks after spending the past year as an admissions counselor at Cloud County Community College while serving as an assistant softball coach for CCCC this past season under former head coach Ed Deugan. Segebart previously had two different stints working as an assistant baseball coach at Cloud County under current head coach Eric Gilliland where he served as first base coach and worked specifically with the T-Bird catchers and assisted with hitting, pitchers, and recruitment.
“I can’t thank everyone involved in this decision enough for believing in me” said Segebart. “I will do everything I can to create a winning culture not only on the field but also in the classroom and within the wonderful community of Concordia.”
In addition to his coaching experience with the T-Birds, Segebart has previously spent three years working at Hard Knocks Athletic Training, where he provided lessons in hitting, pitching, and fielding. He also worked as the pitching coach for the Topeka Golden Giants during the summer of 2017, helping them to a 22-13-1 record and a Mid Plains League championship.
The native of Council Grove, Kansas played collegiately at Butler Community College from 2013-14, and earned his Associate’s Degree in Liberal Arts, before an arm injury ended his playing career. He went on to receive his bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences with an emphasis in Psychology from Kansas State University.
In high school, Segebart was a three-time First-Team All-League and two-time First-Team All-State pitcher. He earned 2011 3A Pitcher of the Year honors and was a Second-Team Small School All-American. Segebart is a member of the Kansas High School Hall of Fame for most no-hitters (3) and perfect games (2) in a season and career.
