Some news and notes from around the college basketball coaching world, with a little bonus DIRT at the end…
UC RIverside head coach Mike Magpayo got win #1 as a head coach in last night’s 57-42 triumph over Washington. The win represents the first by both a Filipino and Asian DI head coach. It’s been a crazy time for Coach Magpayo, not only was the Washington game arranged less than 24 hours before it was tipped, he and his wife also had a baby a few days ago. Congrats! More HERE.
Jerry Waters, the winningest men’s basketball coach in USC Upstate history (formerly USC Spartanburg) who led the Spartans to the NAIA National Championship in 1982, died yesterday. He was 76. At Upstate, Waters compiled an overall record of 364-133 (.732) and was named the NCAA Division II Coach of the Year in 1991. During his 47-year career, which included 25 years at the high school level and 22 years at the collegiate level, Waters accumulated an 859-299 (.742) record. More on Coach Waters amazing career HERE.
University of Maine men’s basketball assistant Edniesha Curry is making a difference in the community. She teamed up with Key Bank as part of their charitable initiative, and they will be donating $5,000 on behalf of Coach Curry to the American Cancer Society in Maine. Curry told WABI “I lost my father to Cancer 4 months ago and it really meant a lot to my family and I know it means a lot to other families who are dealing with this with someone they love or have lost someone they love.” Curry will also join fellow women’s sports leaders on Thursday for the Maine Girls and Women in Sports Committee event “Empowerment through sports.” More HERE.
Quick Hitters:
- Michigan State’s Tom Izzo won his first game ever at Duke’s Cameron Indoor Stadium last night. More HERE.
- Tarleton State Head Coach Billy Gillispie makes his return to Texas A&M tonight. He was the head coach there from 2004-07, and current A&M head coach Buzz Williams served as one of his assistants. More HERE.
- Will Ryan’s Green Bay squad lost at Wisconsin last night. Good article here about the son of legendary Badgers head coach Bo Ryan, and his journey.
- A really good HS job in Massachusetts opens as Bob Boen retires at Brockton. More HERE.
- Week 1 HoopDirt.com / Just Play Solution Coach of the Week winners can be found HERE.
BONUS DIRT
A few weeks ago we advertised the full-time assistant position at NAIA Mount Mercy University (IA). I can confirm that the Mustangs have hired Antwain Strong to fill the position. Strong scored over 1200 points at MMU as a player, and had been serving as the GA. Mount Mercy will be posting their now open GA position over the summer (early heads-up for the young guys out there).
