A longtime University of Pikeville assistant coach has earned a promotion with the men’s basketball staff.
 
Sid Crist has been named associate head coach by Coach Tigh Compton.
 
“Sid has proven to be a dedicated, hard-working member of the athletics department and has been invaluable to the success of our basketball program,” Compton said. “We’re pleased to promote him to associate head coach and look forward to continuing to move the program in a positive direction.”
 
Crist came to UPike for the 2018-19 season as a graduate assistant coach, spending two seasons with Coach Kelly Wells. In those seasons, the Bears went 45-20, reaching the national quarterfinals the first year and qualifying for the unplayed 2020 national tournament.
 
He was then named assistant coach for men’s basketball and director of operations for both the men’s and women’s teams, a position he’s held for the last four seasons.
 
During that time, the Bears have got 72-46 and have played in the last two national tournaments, reaching the second round in 2023.
 
After playing for one season at Glenville State during the 2012-13 season, Crist decided to embark on a coaching career.  He served as a student assistant coach at Fairmont State for three years between 2013-2016. Crist served as the director of basketball operations at Fairmont and was also charged with day-to-day coaching duties. The Falcons had a 67-26 mark during his three years in Fairmont and made two NCAA Tournament appearances.
 
During the 2016-17 season, Crist was an assistant coach at the University of Charleston.
Crist handled multiple duties at the school, including scouting, recruiting, operations as well as day-to-day coaching duties, including the development and implementation of a post player skill program. The Golden Eagles were 16-14 during his season at UC.
 
Crist was an assistant coach at West Virginia Wesleyan during the 2017-18 season. His duties included all recruiting and scouting for the Bobcats.
 
During his collegiate coaching career Crist’s teams are a combined 147-90 with four national tournament appearances. He has recruited and coached multiple all-league players during his career.
 
A native of Ansted, W. Va., Crist was a standout point guard for Midland Trail High School, playing for his father, Greg Crist. During his career Midland Trail had an overall 62-20 record and qualified for three state tournaments, making it to the Final Four during his senior year.
 
Crist is a graduate of Fairmont State University with a degree in Business Administration. He obtained his master’s degree in business administration during his two years as a graduate assistant at UPike.