Kevin Baggett returns for his fourth season at Rider, second as Associate Head Coach after serving two seasons as an assistant coach on the Rider staff. Baggett is entering his 14th year as a Division I assistant Coach.

"Kevin has been a huge asset to our entire basketball program during the past three seasons," said head coach Tommy Dempsey. "I want assistants that are striving to be head coaches. Kevin is well rounded and I believe he will eventually be a head coach at the college level."

Baggett works primarily with the Rider post players, helping the Broncs lead the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference in rebounding. Two seasons ago, one of his pupils, Jason Thompson, was the 12th player selected in the NBA Draft.

At Rider, Baggett made an immediate impact on the recruiting trails by recruiting Mike Ringgold, who went on to earn Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference All-Rookie team honors and collegeinsider.com Mid-major All-Freshman team.

Baggett is a former Saint Joseph's University player and standout performer at the scholastic level in New Jersey.  A 2006 inductee into the South Jersey Hall of Fame, Baggett hails from Burlington and has coached at Cinnaminson High School. He was a member of the Hawks' 1985-86 team that compiled a 26-6 record and reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament. He received his bachelor's degree in marketing with a minor in sociology from St. Joseph's in June, 1989.

Baggett came to Rider from the University of Maryland Baltimore County, where he served as assistant coach from 2004-06. At UMBC Baggett recruited an America East All-Rookie Team member who went on to earn first team All-Conference honors the past three seasons, as well as a pair of transfers from the Colonial Athletic Association who went on to earn All-America East honors. Six of his recruits were on the 2008 NCAA Tournament UMBC squad with three of the recent graduates now playing professionally overseas.

Baggett has also served as an assistant coach at James Madison, Howard, Western Kentucky and Coastal Carolina.

At JMU, Baggett coached four players who are currently playing professionally overseas and two of his recruits went on to score 1,000 career points.

The 2002 Howard University team compiled the best record (18-13) in 20 years, finishing as conference runner up. Baggett recruited a two-time All-Conference player while at Howard.

At Western Kentucky he helped the Hilltoppers reach the conference Championship Game in 1999 while coaching a future NBA post player. Western Kentucky went to the NCAA tournament in 2001, 2002 and 2003 with his recruits.

At Coastal Carolina Baggett coached two players who are currently playing in Europe.

"I am looking forward to the continued opportunity to work with Coach Dempsey," Baggett said.  "We are striving to build on the success of the past seasons and our goal is to bring a conference championship home to Rider University."