Gardner-Webb Head Men’s Basketball Coach Jeremy Luther has announced the return of three former Runnin’ Bulldogs to round out his inaugural coaching staff. Jake Delaney returns to the program as Associate Head Coach, while Christian Turner and Adam Sweeney return as assistant coaches. Additionally, Luther has retained Tannor Kraus as an assistant coach and Director of Player Personnel.
“I couldn’t be more excited with the group of guys that have decided to join me here at Gardner-Webb,” said Luther. “Each one of these guys has played a huge role in helping our program over the past 11 years. My first priority after being named head coach was to hire guys that are going to represent our program and the university at the highest level in every way possible, and I have been able to do that with these guys. Being able to get guys with as much familiarity as these young men have with Gardner-Webb will be key in maintaining the level of consistency that we have been able to have over the past 11 seasons. Gardner-Webb men’s basketball is poised for many more great seasons ahead and I can’t wait to see how we develop over the years to come.”
Delaney returns for his third stint at Gardner-Webb after spending the 2023-2024 season as an assistant coach at Furman University. Previously, Delaney spent three seasons as a full-time Assistant Coach at Gardner-Webb (2020-2023) and two seasons as a graduate assistant (2015-2017).
Delaney spent the 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 seasons as an assistant coach at his alma mater Covenant College, where he graduated with a degree in interdisciplinary studies in 2015 after 56 career appearances and 16 starts on the court. He earned a Master of Business Administration from Gardner-Webb in 2017.
Sweeney returns to Gardner-Webb where he began his career in basketball as a student manager in 2011, before walking on to the team in 2012. He completed his undergraduate degree in mathematics in 2015. After graduation, Sweeney joined the staff as a graduate assistant coach for two seasons. He completed his Master’s in sport pedagogy in 2017.
Since leaving Boiling Springs, Sweeney has worked at Wofford College (Special Assistant to the Head Coach), New Mexico Junior College (Assistant Coach), and two stints at Northwest Florida State College (Assistant Coach).
A four letterman at Gardner-Webb, Turner returns to his alma mater after a two-season hiatus. As a player (2016-2020), Turner was a three-year starter who averaged 2.6 points and 2.5 rebounds per game in 124 career appearances. He was a key member of the 2019 Runnin’ Bulldogs, who claimed the Big South Conference Tournament title and played in the NCAA Tournament for the only time in the program’s Division I history.
After graduation, Turner spent two seasons as a graduate assistant with the program (2020-2022). Turner worked the last two seasons as an assistant coach at nearby North Greenville University.
Kraus returns to Gardner-Webb’s staff for his second season in 2024-2025. He joined Gardner-Webb last summer after a two-year stint as an assistant coach at Northwest Nazarene University.
Luther was named head coach of men’s basketball program on March 27 after serving the previous 11 seasons as the program’s Associate Head Coach. The ‘Dawgs enter 2024-2025 after posting 17-16 overall mark this past season, which included a third-place finish in the Big South (11-5) and a run to the conference semifinals. In 11 seasons, Luther helped guide the Runnin’ Bulldogs to a 188-166 overall record (.531 win pct.) and the program’s only Division I NCAA Tournament appearance in 2019.
Gardner-Webb Basketball Staff Update
