Charleston Southern announced Monday morning that Interim Head Coach Saah Nimley will officially become the program’s 13th Head Coach beginning Monday, March 4.
An introductory press conference is scheduled for later today, Monday, March 4 at 4:30 p.m., in the Team Room, inside the Athletic Performance Center. The event is open to the public.
“This is truly a special day in the history of Charleston Southern basketball,” said Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics, Jeff Barber. “To have the opportunity to name a head coach who is considered by many as the best player to have ever played their sport at their alma mater is unique. Saah Nimley is the perfect fit for our Head Coach position, and I am blessed to have the opportunity to work with him in the days ahead.”
Nimley joined the staff in the summer of 2019, going from Assistant Coach (2019-2023) to Associate Head Coach (2023) and then to Interim Head Coach on November 30, 2023. Since taking over the program, the team has caught life with him leading them to one of the best finishes in conference play since the 2019-2020 season bringing something different out of the team every time out.
“I am deeply grateful and honored to have been appointed as the Head Coach at Charleston Southern,” said Nimley. “I want to thank God for making this opportunity possible. I also want to thank President Faulkner and Jeff Barber for entrusting me with the responsibility of leading this program to success. I am thankful for the players and the staff who have shown resilience in the face of challenges this season. This program has opened doors for me that I never imagined, and I am committed to giving back and helping these young men reach their full potential. Buc Nation, get ready for an exciting journey ahead. It’s Game 7!”
He was a four-year player with the Buccaneers from 2011-2015 and became one of the top players in CSU history as he ranks first all-time in career assists (511) and third in career scoring (1,866). Nimley continued to etch his name into school history by being inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame on September 2, 2022.
During his senior season in 2014-2015, he was named Big South Player of the Year and Honorable Mention All-America by the Associated Press. He ranked fourth nationally in points per game (21.5) and three-pointers per game (3.5) that year. He scored 30 or more points seven times and was the only player in the country to have four consecutive 30-point outings.
Nimley is the only player in Big South history to record over 1800 points scored and to have dished over 500 assists as well as just one of seven all-time with at least 400 rebounds and 400 assists. He ranks 17th in conference history for points scored. Nimley is one of three players in CSU history to be named the conference Player of the Year. He was named to the 2010-2019 All-Decade Team by the league office as well.
Since taking over the program at the end of November, Nimley helped the Buccaneers become one of the most feared teams to play in the conference. He has brought about a sense of toughness and relentless energy into each of the student-athlete’s play styles with most coaches commenting on how physical and talented the squad is. Most of what has been shared in every team meeting, practice, and game since taking the helm is the “EDIG7” mentality that “every day is game seven.” This means that in everything you do, you should approach it with every bit of energy and effort you have.
The team finished the conference slate at 6-10 in a tie for 5th in the league standings in a season that many have considered to be the deepest, top to bottom, since Nimley was a player, if not deeper. This year, the Bucs took down Gardner-Webb on the road for their first Big South win of the season for just the second official win at GWU in program history. Additionally, they swept the season series against USC Upstate and Radford for the first time since 2018-2019 and 2011-2012.
In conference play, the Buccaneers ranked second in scoring defense allowing just 72.6 points per game and holding opponents to the lowest percentage from behind the arc at 30.7%. They have also showed consistent energy in getting to the glass ranking third in the league in rebounds and 3rd in offensive and defensive rebounding margins. This has been one of Nimley’s main emphasis for the program moving forward.
Since Nimley took over the program, they have made a jump of 121 spots in the Kempom defensive rankings dating back to December 1. A player who has jumped off the page since Nimley took over has been A’lahn Sumler who went from averaging 7.9 points per game to 16.7. Currently, they have four players scoring over ten points a game in RJ Johnson (15.3), A’lahn Sumler (14.5), Taje’ Kelly (14.0) and DJ Patrick (10.1).
In his official debut as Interim Head Coach on December 2 against South Carolina State, the team overcame a ten-point second-half deficit to defeat the Bulldogs and deliver Coach Nimley his first career win.
He attended Collins Hill High School and played under Head Coach Josh Grayson. He was a three-time All-Region First-Team selection and Gwinnett Daily Post First-Team honors as well as All-State 5A First-Team honors. Holds the records at Collins Hill HS in career points, assists, and steals as well as single-game points and assists.
Nimley graduated from Charleston Southern with a degree in Communications in 2015.
INTERIM TAG REMOVED: Nimley named Head Basketball Coach at Charleston Southern
