East Tennessee State University men’s basketball head coach Murry Bartow announced Friday the addition of assistant coaches Bob Bolen and Thomas Carr to his 2013-14 staff.
Bartow, who is replacing longtime assistants Mike Boyd and Scott Wagers, said that he had very specific criteria in mind as he evaluated the pool of candidates for these two positions. He wanted coaches who were able to make players better, were strong communicators, and great recruiters.
“Most importantly, both Bob and Thomas have coached their respective teams at a high level,” Bartow said. “They are good people and have the ability to communicate well with their players, which is incredibly important. When it comes to recruiting, they both have the right personalities for the job. I wanted guys who were wired to wake up in the morning and think about recruiting. They both fit that perfectly.”
Prior to coming to Johnson City, Bolen spent 19 seasons as a highly successful head coach at Mountain State University in Beckley, W.Va. During that time span, Bolen’s teams combined for an impressive 487-123 record and his squads consistently ranked as some of the country’s most offensively dynamic teams at the NAIA level.
“I’m really excited to be here and be part of the ETSU basketball tradition,” Bolen said. “It’s a privilege to be part of Coach Bartow’s staff, and I’m ready to do whatever Coach Bartow asks to make this program better – whether that’s providing input on how to make our offense better, or sweeping the floor before practice. My goal is to be a good representative of this team and university.”
Meanwhile, Carr, who has spent the last four years coaching at places such as Chipola College, Hargrave Military Academy and George Washington High School in Danville, Va., said he understands the opportunity he has been given at ETSU.
“To be so young and to have this opportunity to work for Coach Bartow – one of the most respected coaches in the country – is definitely something I’m looking forward to taking advantage of,” Carr said. “I pride myself on making players better, and it will be my goal with each of our players to make them as good as they can be individually, because that is a key to making our team better.”
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