Brad Witherspoon is in his second season as assistant coach for the Cougars with coaching experience on both the NJCAA and NAIA levels including his most recent stint at Doane University in Crete, Nebraska.

Last season Witherspoon helped the Cougars to a Top-8 finish at the 2018 NJCAA Division I National Tournament concluding the season at 27-9. Barton tied for second in the rugged KJCCC at 21-5 with a final four run in the Region VI Tournament.

Three Cougars earned post-season awards led by Kawanise “Squeaky” Wilkins as a 1st Team All-Conference and All-Region selection, with Marvin Cannon and Keshon Montague adding All-National Tournament honors.

A former player for the University of Kansas, Witherspoon was a part of teams that held two Big 12 regular season titles, two Big 12 Tournament titles, one Elite 8 appearance, one Final Four appearance, and one National Championship in 2008.

In addition to his two-year letterman playing career under Bill Self at KU, Witherspoon also served as assistant director of numerous basketball camps and the intramural sports supervisor while being a champion in the classroom landing on the Dean’s Honor Roll, named a Jayhawk Scholar Athlete, and was also named to the Big 12 Commissioner Academic Honor Roll.

Landing a job in the front office for the Oklahoma City Thunder of the National Basketball Association (NBA), Witherspoon turned to coaching full-time with a two-year stint as the assistant men’s basketball coach at Culver-Stockton College where he helped recruit a class that went to back to back NAIA National Tournaments and an Elite 8 appearance.

Moving to John Wood Community College for three seasons, the Trail Blazers went 46-21 during those years, earning the program's first outright conference championship and first Region championship since 1996, and earned a trip to the NJCAA Division II National Tournament. The Trail Blazers also won consecutive league and region championships, consecutive 24-win seasons and national tournament appearances, and a national runner-up finish in 2015 with the help of two First Team All-Americans.

Prior to Doane, Witherspoon spent a season at NJCAA DI member Kilgore College, helping the Rangers to a 20-10 season, sending five players to the NCAA Division I level.

A Humboldt, Kansas, native, Witherspoon earned his bachelor’s degree in physical education from KU in 2009, before earning his Masters of Health & Physical Education degree from Emporia State University in 2013.