The Three Rivers College women's basketball team not only found a new assistant coach with an impressive resume, but the Lady Raiders also found one with deep area roots.
Brice Margenthaler is joining the Lady Raiders coaching staff after stints as an assistant coach at the University of North Alabama and Youngstown State University in Ohio, both Division I schools. He is also a 2018 graduate of Cape Central High School and the son of former Southeast Missouri State women's basketball coach Ty Margenthaler.
“Really excited about getting Bryce in here with his experience, with his connections, and what he's had to do at his previous two schools,” Three Rivers women's basketball head coach Alex Wiggs said. “He's not afraid of work — and that's what you (need) to keep a program where it's at, and (what we need) to keep accomplishing our goals and to try to make it a couple of games further. (To do that) you've got to get people in here that are like-minded, that want to work, that want to do the little things and help make these kids better — and help make it a successful season.”
After growing up in Cape Girardeau, just 90 minutes from Poplar Bluff, coming to TRC is something of a homecoming for Margenthaler.
“It's a really good opportunity to come back home and be in the area,” Margenthaler said. “My (high school) head coach was Drew Church and I played down here in Poplar Bluff a lot, so I definitely know the area a little bit.”
Before joining the Lady Raiders' coaching staff, Margenthaler served one season as the assistant operations and recruiting coordinator at North Alabama and was a graduate assistant coach at Youngstown State the season before that, his first coaching job after he earned his bachelor's degree at Murray State University in 2023.
Before that, Margenthaler played basketball and golf at Cape Central and went on to Carl Sandburg College, where he played both sports as well. During his two years playing basketball at CSC, the Chargers compiled a 44-18 record, the best two-year stretch in school history.
Margenthaler wants to bring a new energy to Three Rivers next season.
“I know Coach Wiggs has built a great foundation here and the tradition of Three Rivers has been great over the years,” Margenthaler said. “(I want) to bring whatever I can bring to the table. If he needs me to do certain thing, I'm there. (I want to) bring energy and some life to this program, and just do what do I can do to help out.”
Last but not least, Margenthaler's roots in Southeast Missouri — and growing up in a coaching family — have shaped him as a coach.
“I grew up in a coaching family, so I have a lot of rich (heritage there),” Margenthaler said. “Just seeing how much passion this community has for every sport — I've came down here for (high school) football games and basketball games and the support down here has been great. So I'm really looking forward to seeing the Three Rivers community come together and see our games.”
Mike Buhler - Daily American Republic