Mark Emmert said in a statement . `` This is a profound loss for the Oklahoma State women 's basketball family , the entire university and future women 's basketball players as well . '' University officials credited Budke for turning the school 's women 's basketball program around , culminating with a top-10 national ranking and an appearance in the second round of the NCAA tournament last season . He was in his seventh season with the school . `` Kurt was an exemplary leader and a man of character who had a profound impact on his student-athletes , '' Oklahoma State President Burns Hargis said . `` He was an outstanding coach and a wonderful person . We send our deepest sympathies to his wife , Shelley , and their children , Sara , Alex and Brett . '' Serna was also in her seventh season with OSU after coming to the school to work for Budke from Louisana Tech , where they both previously worked . She served as the program 's recruiting coordinator , according to the school . Hargis called her `` an up-and-coming coach and an outstanding role model for our young ladies .
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Oklahoma State University women 's basketball coach Kurt Budke and assistant coach Miranda Serna were killed when their plane crashed on the way to a recruiting trip in Arkansas , university officials said Friday . Former Oklahoma state Sen. Olin Branstetter and his wife , Paula , also died in the crash Thursday , university spokesman Gary Schutt said . `` It 's a terribly sad day , '' he said . The crash occurred in Perry County , Arkansas , leaving no survivors . The plane , a Piper Cherokee PA-28 , according to FAA records , crashed under `` unknown circumstances '' in a wooded area about four miles south of Perryville , Arkansas , about 4:30 p.m. CT on Thursday , agency spokesman Lynn Lunsford said Friday . No additional information about the crash was immediately available . The National Transportation Safety Board has sent investigators to the crash site , the agency said Friday . Budke and Serna were on a recruiting trip to Little Rock , Arkansas , the university said . `` For any coaching community to lose bright stars like Kurt and Miranda is tragic , '' NCAA President