Monday, 21 November 2011

Miranda Serna: Oklahoma State assistant coach remembered as star who gave back to New Mexico

A New Mexico native is one of two Oklahoma State women's basketball coaches killed in a crash.

Miranda Serna's death is being felt in her native town in Mora County.

Serna's mother and sister live in Guadalupita, her mother is a retired teacher and Serna's sister is a teacher at Mora Elementary, but they did not want to comment.

Serna was a shining star that continued to give back to her community.

Serna was number 34 in 1992 when she played for the Eldorado High School girl?s basketball team.

In two seasons, she led Eldorado to a perfect 46-0 record and a state championship.

That was just the beginning of Serna's bright future.

For the past seven seasons Serna was an Oklahoma State University assistant coach.

She and head coach Kurt Budke died Thursday in a plane crash over central Arkansas.

The two were on a recruiting trip.

KOB Eyewitness News 4 talked to Mora County School District Superintendent Thomas Garcia, who spoke with Serna's family Friday.

?It?s obviously difficult for the family,? he said.

OSU President Burns Hargis said at a press conference Friday that university is grieving.

"It's our worst nightmare. The entire OSU family is very close, close indeed, and to lose anyone and especially these two individuals who were incredible life forces,? he said.

Serna and Budke had a long-standing working relationship.

She played at Trinity Valley in Texas under Budke as head coach, where he led the team to seven national titles.

Serna was part of the 1996 national championship team.

Before they moved to Oklahoma State University, Serna served as an assistant coach under Budke at Louisiana Tech.

But Serna never forgot New Mexico.

Over the years Serna would return home and work with youth summer camps.

Now the community is mourning her death.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire family as well as Oklahoma State for this tremendous loss," said Garcia.

Former Oklahoma state senator Olin Branstetter and his wife also died in the crash.

This is the second fatal plane crash for the OSU basketball program.

Eleven years ago several people associated with the university's men's basketball program died in a plane crash.

Source: http://neheights.kob.com/news/news/100960-miranda-serna-oklahoma-state-assistant-coach-remembered-star-who-gave-back-new-mexico

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