Ball State head basketball coach Michael Lewis has announced the hiring of Bertram "Buzzy" Caruthers to complete the Cardinals' coaching staff in advance of the 2024-25 season.

"We are really excited to add someone like Buzzy," said Lewis, "who has extensive experience in both player development and recruiting that will continue to push us to the championship level."

Caruthers helped Missouri State to 34 wins over the last two seasons, including 19 of them at home which helped extend the program's 54-year streak of consecutive winning seasons in its home arena. Caruthers accepted a new position at Texas Rio Grande Valley in May, before landing this position with Lewis and Ball State.

Last season, Caruthers guided Alston Mason to All-Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) honors as he led the Bears and ranked third in the MVC with 17.6 points per game. In his first season with Missouri State, Caruthers helped Donovan Clay to All-MVC Second Team and MVC All-Defensive Team honors after leading the team with 11.9 points and 5.5 rebounds per game.

Prior to his two years at Missouri State, Caruthers spent three seasons (2019-22) at Nebraska under Fred Hoiberg, as the director of player development. Caruthers filled several roles in the day-to-day operations and spent some time as an analyst for Nebraska basketball games on B1G+.

Before joining the staff at Nebraska, Caruthers spent a season (2018-19) as an assistant coach at Maryville University. He also spent two seasons (2016-18) at Lincoln University where he helped the program to consecutive appearances to the MIAA Tournament.

Caruthers got his first taste of Division I coaching after spending the 2016 summer at St. John's as a graduate assistant. He had junior college stints at Butler County Community College (2015-16), Chipola College (2014-15), and Dodge City Community College (2012-14), helping coach and develop 20 student-athletes that went on to play at the Division I or Division II levels, including eight all-conference picks.

A native of Kansas City, Caruthers started his coaching career at the high school level, helping K.C.'s Barstow High School (2007-11) to a program-record 24 wins. Caruthers was also a founding member of the MoKan Elite, helping create one of the top travel programs in the country. He also spent a year at his alma mater, Sumner Academy of Arts and Science (2011-12), where he helped the program to a league title.

As a player, Caruthers helped Sumner to two state championships in Kansas before heading to Hampton University to earn a bachelor of science in finance in 2006.