NSU hires new basketball coach

NATCHITOCHES, La. (KALB) - After what was a commotion of a day for Northwestern State University on Monday, with their entire starting five entering the transfer portal, the school has found some stability.

College basketball insider Jon Rothstein reported that Northwestern State has hired Tallahassee Community College Coach Rick Cabrera as their next head coach.

Sources: Northwestern State has hired Rick Cabrera as its next head basketball coach.

Cabrera was previously the head coach at Tallahassee CC.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) March 22, 2023

Rick Cabrera is in his second season as the head coach down at the junior college level but is leading one of the best programs in the country as his Eagles are currently 29-5 on the season and are coming off a win yesterday in the first round of the NJCAA championships.

As a head coach at Tallahassee CC and Lackawanna College, Cabrera has an overall record of 150-44 with four conference/division titles in six seasons as a coach.

If Northwestern State was looking to find someone with a winning background known for developing talent, the school found it in Cabrera. From 2004-2008 with Lackawanna, he produced 12 All-Region honorees, three NJCAA All-Americans and one Region Player of the Year.

Prior to his time at the TCC, Cabrera spent 13 seasons as a Division I assistant at Arkansas State, Austin Peay, Tennessee Tech and Chattanooga.

Cabrera will take over an NSU program coming off the best season in a decade. NSU went 22-11 last season and produced the Southland Player of the Year in Demarcus Sharp. Corey Gipson spent just one season in Natchitoches as the head coach before taking the coaching job at Austin Peay just a few days after the Demons’ season ended in the Southland Conference Tournament Championship.

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