Chad Warner, who coached Shorter University to the NAIA Division I “Fab Four” in 2012 and a No. 1 ranking, has been named head men’s basketball coach at Flagler College, Director of Athletics Jud Damon announced.
Warner, who led the Hawks to the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) Division I title in 2013 and was the winningest coach in the program’s history with 156 victories, is the seventh head coach in the 44-year history of Flagler basketball.
He will be formally introduced at a press conference at the end of next week. Details will be released early next week.
“Chad is a winner in every sense of the word,” Damon said. “He has proven this on the court, in the community, and with his family. He is a servant-leader of the highest order and I expect we will see him build a championship culture here at Flagler. We are delighted Chad will be our next head coach.”
Shorter, under Warner’s guidance, went from a 6-23 record the year previous to his arrival, to 19-12 in his first season (2007-08). The turnaround was the largest in the entire NAIA Division I ranks. He was named the NABC National Coach of the Year in 2012, Shorter’s final year in the NAIA. In their first year of provisional status in NCAA Division II, Warner coached the Hawks to a 21-11 record and he was selected as the Georgia Basketball Coaches Association (GABCA) Division II Coach of the Year in 2013.
“I want to sincerely thank Mr. Damon, the search committee, and Dr. Abare (Flagler College President) for believing in me and giving me this opportunity to lead the Flagler men’s basketball team,” said Warner. “I would also like to specifically thank Coach Bo Clark for building the foundation of this program and serving this community for the past 31 years. I look forward to trying to build on his legacy and I look forward to getting to know him personally.
“My family and I are extremely excited to embrace the Flagler College community and the greater St. Augustine community. Throughout the interview process, it became very apparent to me that this would be a wonderful place to call home. We are eager to get to work and serve both Flagler and the community of St. Augustine.”
Warner has signed and coached two players of the year, five newcomers of the year and five All-Americans. He transitioned the Hawks basketball program from the Southern States Athletic Conference (NAIA Division I) to the Gulf South Conference (NCAA Division II).
He left Shorter after the 2015 season after compiling a 156-91 record (.632 winning percentage). He returned to coaching this past year at Valparaiso (Ind.) University, where he served as the recruiting coordinator and special assistant to the head coach. The Crusaders finished in a first place tie with Oakland University with a 14-4 record in the Horizon League. Valparaiso advanced to the first round of the National Invitation Tournament and finished the season with a 24-9 record.
Prior to Shorter, Warner was a member of the coaching staff at the College of William & Mary, located in Williamsburg, Virginia. He recruited two all-conference selections, including one of only two players in the history of the program to score 1400 points, grab 500 rebounds and dish out 300 assists.
Warner also had a stint as an assistant coach at Hampden-Sydney College in Farmville, Virginia. In two seasons, the Tigers won two conference championships and played in two NCAA Division III national tournaments.
In 2002-03, he served as a graduate assistant for legendary head coach Jim Harrick at the University of Georgia, where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in journalism in 1998.
Warner, and his wife, Karin, have three children: Aly, Caroline and Jack.
http://flaglerathletics.com/news/2017/4/1/MBB_0401_Warner.aspx
