ATLANTA?Georgia State head basketball coach Rod Barnes has completed his first Panthers' coaching staff with the hiring of former Tulane assistant William Small as assistant coach.

Small, a 13-year veteran of college coaching in the Southeast, joins a staff that also includes assistant coaches Eugene Harris and Scepter Brownlee.

“William Small has excellent ties and knowledge of recruiting in the Southeast,” said Barnes, who was named the Georgia State head coach on March 19, 2007. “We are excited to be able to add him to our staff at Georgia State because he is well thought of and respected. Just as good as his reputation as a coach and recruiter is his reputation as a person. No doubt, he will be an asset in helping us take this program to a higher level and developing our student-athletes.”

Small comes to Georgia State after one season at Tulane, where he served under head coach Dave Dickerson and helped the Green Wave to a 17-13 record, which marked the school's highest victory total since 1999-00 and included a 9-7 mark in Conference USA.

Small previously spent one season (2005-06) under Don Maestri at Troy after two years at Western Kentucky. His tenure as an assistant to Darrin Horn at WKU was highlighted by a 22-9 record in 2004-05, when the Hilltoppers earned their first postseason win in 10 years during a trip to the National Invitation Tournament. Small helped recruit 2005 Sun Belt Freshman of the Year Courtney Lee.

Prior to his stint at Western Kentucky, Small served three seasons (2000-03) at Southeastern Louisiana, helping the Lions establish school records for Southland Conference wins in back-to-back seasons.

After beginning his coaching career as a graduate assistant at NCAA Division II program Delta State in 1994-95, Small spent two years as an assistant coach at Cowley Community College in Kansas and then served at Alabama-Huntsville in 1997-98 and Tennessee-Martin in 1999-00.

Small played collegiately at Belhaven College in Jackson, Miss., where he earned his bachelor's degree.

A native of Winona, Miss., he has one daughter, Chiya.