Gaston College (NC) will be launching an athletics program to begin play during the 2021-22 academic year. The college has made a splash, by hiring Dickey Nutt as their new head men’s basketball coach, and former NBA player Gene Banks as their AD.

Nutt, a veteran coach, has served as the head coach at Arkansas State (1995-2008), and Southeast Missouri (2009-15). He won 279 games during his 19-seasons as a D1 head coach. Nutt is currently the special assistant to the head coach at Cleveland State, and will remain there until the end of the season. Nutt will reportedly be paid $80,000/yr, and his duties will also include serving as the assistant director of athletics at the college.

Banks was a standout on the court at Duke before being drafted by San Antonio in the second round of the 1981 NBA draft. The 1978 ACC Rookie of the Year, Banks spent six years in the league with the Spurs and later the Bulls. According to reports, Banks will earn $90,000/yr. as he launches new teams which will include baseball, softball, women’s beach volleyball, and esports in addition to men’s basketball.