Story: Adam Nelson (@HD_DirtKing)
Been quiet at HoopDirt on the DIRT front over the last month – sometimes life gets in the way. As many of you know HD is not my full-time job. Even though I’m done coaching, I still work in college athletics. Recently however, I assumed a bit of a new role (you can now call me Dean), and it’s been a bit of an adjustment. Anyway – I’m acclimated now, and ready to roll. Here are a few things that I’ve heard while trying to make it look like I know what I’m doing in the “real” world…
Ryan Peterson, who had been a graduate assistant at Baylor since 2021 has joined Darrin Horn’s staff at Northern Kentucky as a Player Development Coach. Prior to his time at Baylor, Peterson worked for legendary prep coach Jere Quinn at St. Thomas More (CT) and played collegiately at both Pace University (NY) and Lynn University (FL). An official announcement is expected shortly. UPDATE: This was officially announced as I was typing. More HERE.
I have heard that Boston College Director of Basketball Operations Adam Walsh has departed the Eagles staff. Word on the street is that Tyler Futrell will be his replacement. Futrell is a former graduate assistant at BC, and also served as a manager for Eagles head coach Earl Grant at the College of Charleston. More on this one once it’s been made official.
Jerome Gray has been promoted on Donte’ Jackson’s staff at Grambling. The former graduate assistant will now assume the role of assistant coach / director of basketball operations. Last season was his first with the Tigers after spending six years as a high school head coach in Milwaukee.
I have heard that D2 Goldey-Beacom College (DE) head coach TJ Dekmar has added AJ Williams, Jason Young, and Shabarii Noiis as assistant coaches and Ben Ruemenapp as the graduate assistant. Williams spent the past four seasons as the head coach at Salem CC (NJ), Young was an assistant at GBC back in 2022-23, and Noiis was an assistant at College of Staten Island last season. Ruemenapp is a former student assistant at Gustavus Adolphus College.
Panayiotis Kapanides and Shawn McCall haved joined the staff at D3 Emmanuel College. Kapanides had been coaching HS + AAU basketball in the area, while this will be McCall’s first college coaching gig after wrapping up his playing career at nearby Lesley University.
D3 Wentworth has hired Jason Finskt as an assistant coach. Finskt spent last year as a Graduate Assistant at Florida State for Leonard Hamilton and was a manager during his college career at the University of New Hampshire for Bill Herrion.
You can check out the 2024 Coaching Changes Tracker presented by D1.relocation HERE. It contains all of the head coaching changes so far at the NCAA D1, D2, D3, NAIA, and JUCO levels.
