East Texas A&M head men’s basketball coach Jaret von Rosenberg has announced the promotion of Coleman Furst to the Lions’ associate head coach position in April of 2020.
Furst has been a part of three NCAA Tournament appearances and a Lone Star Conference divisional championship while being on the sidelines as well as the program's first three season in NCAA Division I and the Southland Conference.
“From day one, Coleman has been instrumental to our success both on and off the court,” von Rosenberg. “He’s not only helped us qualify for NCAA tournaments, but he has been essential in our academic operations and assisting our student-athletes as they work towards graduating.
“His dedication and loyalty to myself, our student-athletes, and program is why he is being elevated to associate head coach. Our program wouldn’t be in this position without him. As we strive to compete for conference, regional, and national championships, we are lucky to have him help lead the way.”
With Furst on the bench, the Lions have had five All-South Central Region selections, with at least one in each season. Each of his three seasons have featured a first team All-Lone Star Conference performer and seven total Lions have earned All-LSC honors.
“I’m very excited to be named associate head coach for this program,” Furst said. “I can’t thank Coach Rose and Tim McMurray enough for their support and confidence in me. It’s been an amazing three seasons here and I’m excited about the future. I look forward to continuing to help Coach Rose build this program and get back out on the court this season with our great group of student-athletes.”
Furst joined the Lions' staff prior to the 2017-18 season. Prior to joining East Texas A&M, Furst was an assistant coach at Tarleton State for one year after a two-year graduate assistantship at TSU and played four seasons for the Texans.
Durng the 2016 season, TSU finished with a 22-8 record and finished second in the Lone Star Conference. The team advanced to the South Central Regional tournament, falling in the first round. He helped coach three All-LSC players during the season and helped tutor LSC Defensive Player of the Year Romond Jenkins and Freshman of the Year Anthony Davis.
In Furst’s two years as a graduate assistant coach, the Texans won back-to-back South Central Regional Championships. In 2015-16, Tarleton went 24-9 and defeated Angelo State in the Regional finals. The Texans were ranked as high as No. 1 in the NABC poll during the year.
Furst’s first season as a graduate assistant coach was a memorable one as the former Texan guard helped coach his alma mater to one of its greatest seasons in history. Tarleton recorded its first 30-win season on its way to an LSC and South Central Regional Championship and its second trip to the NCAA Division II National Semifinals, making Tarleton the only school from the state of Texas to reach the Division II Final Four more than once.
Furst, a native of Denison, enjoyed a lengthy playing career in which he lifted Tarleton to two consecutive Lone Star Conference Tournament Championships – the first of which was won on a buzzer-beating 3-pointer from Furst. Tarleton State qualified for the NCAA regional tournament in all four seasons with Furst.
During his tenure as a guard for the Texan basketball team, Furst was a part of 99 wins. His senior campaign comprised the best record of his career with a 28-3 mark, including a senior college-era record 18 consecutive wins to begin the season.
He joined the Texans after a dominant career with Denison High School where he was a McDonald’s All-American nominee and the No. 44-ranked player in the state after his District MVP-senior campaign.
Furst graduated from Tarleton State with his undergraduate degree in Fitness Management in 2014 and a master’s degree in Kinesiology. He is the son of Paige and Ed Furst and has a sister, Brooke. Furst is married to his wife, Charlie, and the two have five children, Hannah, Caysen, Miles, Rowan, and Brody.
