Belmont Abbey College Director of Athletics Stephen Miss has named Crusaders Associate Head Coach Martin Unger as Head Men’s Basketball Coach. Unger, who becomes the 15th head coach in school history, served the past two years as the Associate Head Coach and was elevated from assistant coach on September 26, 2012 after the appointment of Miss to Director of Athletics.
Miss, the Crusaders men’s basketball coach the last seven years with the last two while also serving as Director of Athletics, steps down from coaching to focus solely on leading the Athletic Department. He ends his coaching career with a record of 113-87, two seasons with at least 20 victories, a Conference Carolinas Championship and an NCAA Tournament appearance in 2013. During his first year as head coach (2007-8) Conference Carolinas named him Coach of the Year.
"After what was a deliberate, thorough, and exhaustive search, with more than 175 submitted completed applications, Martin Unger distinguished himself as the best candidate to lead the Belmont Abbey College men’s basketball program," Miss said. "Certainly, Coach Unger’s experience, knowledge of the game, and persistence are impressive; however, what sets him apart is his ability to establish and cultivate lasting, meaningful relationships with student-athletes and colleagues alike."
Unger came to Belmont Abbey after spending five years as an assistant coach at Division I University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC).
"First and foremost I want to thank God, for none of this would be possible without him," Unger said. "Secondly, I would like to thank Dr. Thierfelder, Abbot Placid, Stephen Miss and the entire Belmont Abbey College community for giving me this unbelievable opportunity. I have been working the last 20 years of my life for this moment and I will forever be grateful."
During his tenure at UMKC, Unger was involved in all aspects of the program including recruiting, on the floor coaching, academic mentoring, individual workouts, game planning, scouting and camps. He recruited and coached the Kangaroos all-time leading rebounder, Spencer Johnson. UMKC produced four all-conference selections while he was on staff.
Prior to joining the Kangaroos, Unger served as the top assistant and recruiting coordinator at Nicholls State University during the 2006-07 season. During his lone year with NSU, Unger coached Stefan Blaszczynski to first-team all-Southland Conference honors, as the senior paced the team and ranked 38th in the nation in scoring at 19.2 points per game.
Before making the move to Nicholls, Unger served as the video coordinator and assistant recruiting coordinator at Florida State University from 2001-06. During his time in Tallahassee, the Seminoles made a pair of NIT Tournament appearances (2004 and 2006). Unger primarily worked with players and coaches in areas of scouting and evaluation. He was also in charge of the Leonard Hamilton Satellite Basketball Camps.
Prior to joining the Florida State staff, Unger served as an administrative assistant at the University of Richmond from 1997-2001 under head coach John Beilein. Unger earned his bachelor’s degree in sociology with a minor in history from Western Carolina University in 1997.
A native of Richmond, Virginia, Unger and his wife, Heather- who was a member of the Western Carolina golf team-have four children, Kelsey, Katie, Carson and Cody.
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