Joplin, Mo. - Missouri Southern head women's basketball coach Ronnie Ressel has announced the promotion of Bryant Porter to Associate Head Coach/Recruiting Coordinator effective immediately.

Since joining the MSSU staff in 2021, the Lions have averaged 24 wins a season, compiling a 73-23 (51-15 MIAA) record, claiming the program's first ever MIAA Regular Season Championship in 2021-22 and the MIAA Tournament Championship in 2022-23. The team finished with a program record 29 wins in 2022-23, advancing to the Central Region Championship for the first time since 1994. Over the past three seasons at MSSU, Porter has helped recruit, develop, and coach multiple Lions that have earned All-MIAA, All-Region and All-American honors.  
 
Porter joined the coaching staff prior to the 2021-22 season, serving three years as an assistant coach with Missouri Southern. Before his time at MSSU, Porter spent four years at Tyler Junior College where he helped lead the team to an 97-39 record and three-straight National Tournament Appearances. He helped the Apaches reach the Sweet 16 in 2018-19 and the Elite Eight in 2020-21. The team won the Region 14 Championship in 18-19. 
 
A 2011 graduate of Missouri Valley College, Porter was an All-Conference selection as a senior, earning a degree in exercise science from MVC. He is a native of Red Bud, Illinois and also earned an associates degree from Southwestern Illinois College where he was a starter for a nationally-ranked team both seasons. 
 
"Bryant has been an amazing addition to our coaching staff," commented head coach Ronnie Ressel. "I'm so proud of what we have done in taking our defense to another level the past three seasons and he's great on the floor with player development. He's incredible with building relationships with our current players and the kids that we are recruiting. I'm very lucky to have him on our staff and excited to name him associate head coach/recruiting coordinator."