the Ten most about the team

children were young, Alexis only two-anda-half years old and Garrett eight months old, the two ended up taking after their father.

Brian Luinstra was a champion.

In high school, he was an undefeated, state champion wrestler and a star multisport athlete.

He was a champion of fatherhood, and from the moment he met his wife, Carolyn Huffman, the pair talked about their desire to start a family.

Above all, he was a champion of life.

“Brian was a fun-loving guy who loved his job and the people he worked with,” Huffman said. “He took his pro- fession very seriously and helped many athletes get back to playing their sports through his care.”

During a stint working at Kansas before OSU, he met the love of his life, Huffman. The couple had two children together, and Luinstra took pride in being a father to his children.

“He loved me and his children,” Huffman said. “He took a hands-on approach with them; reading, playing, teaching them sports and about God.”

Although Luinstra died when his

Doug Gottlieb always liked flying on Denver Mills’ plane.

First of all, Mills’ wife, Lindell, kept the Super King Air stocked with all the unhealthy snacks hungry basketball players could desire. Whether returning from a thrilling win or gut-wrenching loss, Mills’ kindness was consistent. Usually, the coaches were on another flight back home

Both were athletes talented enough to play at the college level.

When the athletic training staff and members of the team wanted to spend time together outside of basketball, it was an easy decision who would be hosting– Luinstra. These nights usually came with him behind the grill.

“He loved being a part of a team (and) making close relationships with many of the staff and players,” Huffman said. Courtesy questions,” Gottlieb said. “I like learning things by asking questions. He’d teach me about flying and a couple of times I was up there for the whole flight.”

Pat Noyes and OSU were a match like no other.

“It’s kind of like he found a forever place being there, I think that had he wandered or ventured off, he would have always been anchored to OSU no matter what,” Dan Noyes, Pat’s brother said. “He was a relentless defender of Oklahoma State, almost to a fault. That’s what people should remember about Pat.”

OSU coach Eddie Sutton would often refer to Pat as his “right-hand man,” too. There was truly an unbreakable bond between the legendary coach and Pat.

And for Pat, there was nothing better than being around his “family.”

No matter what job they occupied, each player, coach and staff member made eachother feel like an integral part of the OSU team.

Bill

from road games, so Mills’ plane always had a relaxing vibe.

Gottlieb, former OSU point guard, said on some flights Mills would let him sit in the cockpit. There, he made cockpit announcements to his teammates and Mills never tired of having a point guard for a co-pilot.

“I’m somebody who I ask a million

“I think that collective group of people over that era, obviously with coach (Eddie) Sutton and all his assistant coaches is what made it so special for Pat, because he felt like he had complete ownership of the program as well, even at the position he was in,” Dan said.

Paula Cole sat in the car in her parents’ garage and listened to OSU games on the radio – just to hear the play-by-play announcer. That announcer, Bill Teegins, Cole’s brother.

“He just made you feel like you were right there,” Cole said.

“We just loved it.

“We felt kind of goofy sitting in the garage, but back then that’s all we could get.”

Teegins loved what he did. He

Jared Weiberg: The backup who didn’t skip

Jared Weiberg always wanted to coach.

But without the athleticism required of a top-tier performer, playing for OSU was just a means to an end. During practice, Weiberg didn’t even have to do all the drills. Coach Eddie Sutton allowed walk-ons a respite. They could just shag rebounds and keep the energy up.

Except Weiberg never did.

“Jared wouldn’t skip out on any drill,” said Doug Gottlieb, OSU’s senior point guard on the 1999-00 team.

Chad Weiberg, OSU’s athletic director and Jared’s brother, said the thing Jared liked most about being part of Cowboy basketball was getting to be in the middle of everything.

“Being able to help the team any way he could and just observing and learning,” Chad said. “That’s the reason he came (to OSU).”

After a year, Weiberg took a position as student assistant position for OSU, Trading his walk-on role for a clipboard.

“He would call you and feed you admired Stillwater – Eskimo Joe’s was one of his favorite spots, and he even had his own table. Teegins loved OSU, its fans and community. Doing OSU’s play-by-play didn’t feel like a job. Cole said he enjoyed being part of the program and experiencing everything live.

Mills didn’t have to spend time away from his wife and three children flying around a basketball team, much less take the time to personally connect and invest in the lives of his passengers.

“He was just a really good dude,” Gottlieb said.

His family went vacation every year, and Teegins took the time to do a radio segment while on vacation.

“My dad used to say, ‘I can’t for shooting any time, help you with scouts, help you with watching film,” Gottlieb said.

Chad said his brother enjoyed breaking down film and following in the footsteps of their father Mick, who coached basketball.

“That was just in his blood,” Chad said. “I think he loved every everything about it. Every minute of it. He was doing what he wanted to do. I have no doubt that he’d be out there coaching somewhere right now… I think he would have been out there as part of the Eddie Sutton tree.” sports.ed@ocolly.com believe that on your vacation you have to call in,’” Cole said. “And (Teegins) would go, ‘I love it.’ And he did.”

Besides his love for what he did, Teegins was best known as someone who cared.

Cole said Teegins remembered everyone’s name, and he would stop and listen to anyone – he truly cared about people.

“He was a very caring person,” Cole said. “That’s the one thing I’ve heard from many people. That’s just the way he was.”