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 Doug Ash
Doug Ash
Position:
Assistant Coach

Doug Ash is in his fourth year at Baylor, but has been an assistant to head coach Dave Bliss for 27 years.

Ash is a proven recruiter who joined Bliss in the early 70s, and over 27 seasons at four different schools, the duo has amassed 512 victories and 16 postseason appearances.

Ash came to Waco from Albuquerque, N.M., where he spent 11 seasons at New Mexico with Bliss. Ash's recruiting prowess helped lead the Lobos to postseason play 10 times in 11 seasons, including seven trips to the NCAA Tournament in the final nine years. New Mexico won the WAC Tournament twice (1993, '96) and captured the WAC regular-season championship in 1994.

Prior to UNM, Ash coached for eight seasons at SMU after Bliss was named the Mustangs head coach following the 1979-80 season. Once again, Ash coordinated recruiting that helped turn the SMU program around. The Mustangs reached the NCAA Tournament three times during Ash's tenure there (1984, 1985 and 1988) and captured the 1988 Southwest Conference regular season title and tournament championship. During his final season in 1987-88, SMU finished 28-7 and broke the school record for wins.

From 1975 to 1979, Ash was Bliss' assistant at Oklahoma. As at every coaching stop, Bliss and Ash enjoyed success in Norman, Okla. Ash helped to spearhead a recruiting effort that turned the OU program around for years to come. The Sooners were 18-10 in 1976-77 and finished second in the Big 8 with a team dominated by freshmen and sophomores. OU posted another winning mark in 1977-78, then won the Big 8 title in 1978-79. The 1978-79 team also won the Big 8 postseason tournament before losing to Larry Bird's Indiana State team in the NCAA Tournament.

Ash began his coaching career as a graduate assistant under coach Bob Knight at Indiana for two years (1973-74) before moving with then-Hoosier assistant Bliss to Oklahoma when Bliss took the Sooners' head coaching job in the spring of 1975.

Ash played freshman basketball and varsity baseball at Hanover (Ind.) College and received his degree in 1971. He was a four-year letterman in baseball and was team captain as a senior. Ash also served as the school's freshman basketball coach while still in school himself and became a full-time assistant coach at Hanover during the 1972-73 season.

A native of Shelbyville, Ind., Ash lettered in basketball, baseball and football at Shelbyville High School. He was team captain of both the basketball and baseball teams as a senior at SHS.

Ash, 53, enjoys fishing, tennis, jogging and movies. He and his wife, Jan, are the parents of one son, Michael (27).

ASH FACT SHEET

PERSONAL
Birthdate: Feb. 19, 1949
Birthplace: Shelbyville, Irnd.
Family: Wife, Jan; son Michael

EDUCATION
Hanover [Ind.] College, 1971
Indiana, 1974 (master's)

PLAYING EXPERIENCE
Hanover [Ind.] College

COACHING EXPERIENCE
1973 Hanover [Ind.] College
1973-75 Indiana
1975-80 Oklahoma
1980-88 SMU
1988-99 New Mexico
1999- Baylor