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High Point University men’s basketball head coach Scott Cherry has announced that Eric Gabriel will be promoted to assistant coach for the 2015-16 season.
Gabriel served as HPU’s director of player development in 2014-15 after working as the program’s director of video operations in 2013 and 2014.
“I am very excited to promote Eric to assistant coach on our staff,” Cherry said. “He has been a valuable asset to our program and a big part of the reason for our success these last few seasons. He has worked extremely hard to give our players and coaches the necessary tools for us to be successful.
“Eric has always wanted to be a full time assistant at the Division I level and I am so glad I can reward him for his effort, loyalty, and dedication to High Point University. Keeping continuity on your staff is really important and this will help us keep familiarity with our players.”
Since Gabriel joined the HPU staff in 2013, the Panthers are one of just six programs in the nation to have won three-consecutive regular season conference championships. The others are Kansas, Gonzaga, Davidson, Harvard and Stephen F. Austin.
This past season, HPU set new Div. I program records for wins (23), conference wins (13), road wins (9) and conference road wins (6) while picking up the first postseason victory in the program’s Div. I era.
“I’ve truly cherished my experience here at High Point University and am ecstatic to start my new role as assistant coach,” Gabriel said. “I want to sincerely thank my wife, Misty, for her support on this journey to this point in my career. It’s a dream come true for me and I want to continue helping young men achieve their dreams on and off the court.
“I also want to sincerely thank Coach Cherry, Mr. Hauser and President Qubein for the opportunity to come to High Point University two years ago and allowing me to grow within the High Point University family. Coach Cherry has built a great foundation and I am so grateful for this opportunity to be part of building the High Point basketball tradition.”
Gabriel came to HPU in 2013 by way of Shepherd University, where in 2012-13 he helped the Rams to a 15-12 record, which was the team’s highest win total since 2003-04. The team also posted its highest conference finish since the 1993-94 season. Gabriel’s responsibilities included serving as the recruiting coordinator, strength and conditioning coordinator and head of scouting opponents.
Prior to his time at Shepherd, Gabriel served as an assistant coach at the University of Mount, in Mount Olive, N.C., for three seasons and prior to that served as an assistant coach at Methodist University, in Fayetteville, N.C., for one season.
He began his coaching career with stops at Alexander High School and Fort Loramie High School from 2004-08. Gabriel served as an assistant at Alexander and helped the Spartans set a regular season record for wins in 2005-06. He then became head coach at Loramie and won 15 games in his second season after inheriting a five-win team upon his appointment in 2006.
Gabriel was a four-year member of the West Liberty University men’s basketball team in West Liberty, W.Va., from 2000-04. He was a three-year starter at point guard and was co-captain his senior season.
Gabriel graduated from West Liberty in 2004 with a degree in Elementary Education. He received a master’s degree in Sport and Recreation Sciences from Ohio University in 2011.
http://www.highpointpanthers.com/news/2015/9/1/M-Basketball_0901152827.aspx
Photo Courtesy High Point Athletics
