Millsaps Athletics announced that Michael Prather has joined the men’s basketball staff as an assistant coach for the 2017-18 season. Prather comes to the Majors after a long stint as an assistant coach at East Texas Baptist University.

Prather spent a total of 13 seasons at East Texas Baptist, including the last 10 as the top assistant in the program. He was responsible for a defensive system that twice ranked among the top-10 in the nation in field goal percentage defense and three times held opponents under 40 percent shooting. During his tenure with the Tigers they posted back-to-back 20-win seasons, including a 26-6 record in 2015-16 when the ETBU won the America Southwest Conference title and advanced to the Elite 8 of the NCAA Division III men’s basketball tournament. On the recruiting trail he saw 15 of his players receive All-ASC recognition along with four Defensive Player of the Year, two Newcomers of the Year and one Freshman of the Year awards.

“I’m extremely excited to add Michael to our program,” said Jimmy Smith, the head men’s basketball coach at Millsaps. “We have competed against each other for years so to work together on the same staff is something I am really looking forward to. Through the years I have developed a great respect for Michael’s work ethic, knowledge of the game, and ability to recruit. He is passionate about his job and develops meaningful relationships with his players. Michael was a huge part of East Texas Baptist making it to the Elite 8 a couple seasons ago, so he also understands what he takes to win at a high level. I am excited to introduce Michael, his wife Natalie, and son Benjamin to the Millsaps family.”

A 2004 graduate of East Texas Baptist, Prather holds a BS in education as well as a Master’s in history that he earned at Stephen F. Austin University in 2014.

http://gomajors.com/news/2017/7/6/prather-joins-millsaps-mens-basketball-staff.aspx