Head Coach Ed Cooley named Jeff Battle assistant coach for men’s basketball.

“I am excited to have Jeff joining our staff,” Cooley said. “With his experience, ability to develop players and knowledge of the game, Jeff will be a tremendous asset to our program.”

Prior to coming to Providence, Battle had served as the Associate Head Coach at Wake Forest from 2001-14. Battle spent 13 seasons on the Wake Forest basketball staff, serving as associate head coach under Skip Prosser, Dino Gaudio and Jeff Bzdelik.

“I am extremely honored and blessed to have the opportunity to be a part of Coach Cooley’s staff,” Battle said. “For many years, I have admired the work Ed has done and the success his teams have had. I am eager to start working in Friartown.”

Battle was instrumental in Wake Forest’s success over his 13 seasons as the Deacons reached a No. 1 national ranking in 2005 and again in 2009, won a school-record 27 games in 2005, advanced to the Sweet Sixteen in 2004 and won the 2003 ACC regular season title. Wake Forest averaged almost 20 wins per season and made six NCAA Tournament appearances during Battle’s tenure.

During his tenure at Wake Forest, Battle played a key role in the development of current NBA All-Stars Chris Paul (Los Angeles Clippers) and Jeff Teague (Atlanta Hawks) as well as current point guard Ish Smith (Philadelphia 76ers).

Battle helped bring a number of highly-ranked recruiting classes to Wake Forest. Wake Forest’s 2010 recruiting class was ranked No. 6 in the nation according to ESPN, while the Deacons’ 2008 class was ranked No. 3 in the country by Rivals.com. Battle also helped bring in the No. 10-ranked recruiting class in 2006, the No. 16 class in 2003 and the No. 30 class in 2007, all according to Rivals. Wake Forest’s 2012 recruiting class was ranked No. 21 in the country by ESPN.

Battle went to Wake Forest after spending seven seasons at Xavier University as an assistant coach under Skip Prosser. Battle coached alongside Prosser for 14 years and at three different institutions. He was on the Loyola (Md.) College staff in 1993-94 when Prosser made his head coaching debut, then joined him on the sidelines at Xavier before going to Winston-Salem prior to the start of the 2001-02 season.

Prior to Loyola, Battle was an assistant coach for three seasons at Delaware State from 1990-93. He also served as head coach at Caesar Rodney High School in Dover, Del. from 1986-88.

Battle began his college coaching career as a graduate assistant at Delaware (1986-88) under coach Steve Steinwedel.

As an undergraduate, Battle played four seasons at Marshall, helping the Thundering Herd compile a record of 82-38 from 1982-85. Battle was the starting point guard and a captain in his junior and senior seasons, guiding Marshall to two consecutive NCAA Tournament berths.

Battle received his bachelor’s degree in physical education from Marshall. He also received his master’s degree in physical education from Delaware in 1988. He has one son, Jordan.

 

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