Ponies Basketball Coaches & Staff
Junsie Cotten, Head Coach
Willard "Junsie" Cotten is entering his third year at Panola College. The Chapel Hill, North Carolina native understands the competitiveness of Region XIV and Juco Basketball. In his first season at the helm, Coach Cotten led the Ponies to the NJCAA Region XIV Playoffs. Prior to Panola College, Cotten spent his first two years as a head coach at Midland College, where he posted a 55-15 record. In 2000, he was selected the Region V Coach of the Year as he guided his Chaparrals to the WJAC Conference Championship, a Region V Championship, and a 6th place finish at the NJCAA National Tournament. Coach Cotten, spent 5 years as the Head Coach at Lincoln Trail College in Illinois, where he once again led his team to the 2007 Region XXIV Championship. Cotten was named Coach of the Year for the second time in his career.
Prior to Lincoln Trail, Junsie served as an assistant at Eastern Oklahoma State College and assistant at the University of Texas – El Paso. He began his coaching career as a student assistant at Utah State, then an assistant at Eastern Utah, before becoming the assistant coach at Midland College in 1997.
Guy Beach, Assistant Coach
Guy Beach comes to Panola College from the private sector in Fresno, California. He is beginning his 19th season as a college basketball coach, with his most recent coaching position as an assistant for the Idaho Stampede in the NBA D-League. During the 2007-2008 season, the Stampede won the D-League championship during Beach’s only year at the Professional level.
Guy was an assistant coach at the College of Eastern Utah, Weber State University, University of Texas at El Paso and Fresno State University. He was also the Head Basketball Coach at the College of Eastern Utah and the College of Southern Idaho, where he compiled a 103-25 record in four seasons. He first teamed up with Coach Cotten at the College of Eastern Utah to win the school’s only SWAC championship in history and posted a 28-5 record in 1997.
Guy is excited to team up again with Coach Cotten as he begins his first season at Panola as his assistant coach. “I can’t think of anyone else in coaching who I would be happier to work with in teaching and coaching student-athletes. We have numerous similar philosophies, on and off the court, and I am eager to help him and Panola College in their continued success.”
Jake White, Assistant Coach
After high school , White received a scholarship to attend New Mexico Military Institute from 2003-2005, where he was one of the top leaders in assists and three point percentage during his two seasons as a Bronco. Upon leaving NMMI, White spent a year at Texas A&M Kingsville before finishing his playing career at UT Tyler from 2006-2007. White graduated from UT Tyler in spring of 2008 with a B.S. in History and a minor in Social Studies.
A native of Longview, TX, White is a 2003 graduate of Longview High School, where he earned All District and all East Texas honors as a Senior.
“I am extremely excited to have my first college coaching experience here at Panola, “ White commented on his new opportunity with the Ponies. “ I feel blessed to be around such a family-oriented program and great young men, in addition to being part of a very knowledgeable staff.