Mississippi Valley State University head men’s basketball coach Andre Payne has announced the hiring of assistant coach Eric Strothers, a 20-year veteran coach in the SWAC.

He joins the MVSU program following a successful 20-year career at rival Jackson State, where he served as associate head men’s basketball coach for the Tigers. Strothers’ responsibilities will include recruiting, scouting, managing the student-athlete academic program, supervising study hall, directing the off-season conditioning program and various administrative duties with the team.

"I am really pleased to be a part of MVSU as a member of the coaching staff," said Strothers, who helped lead JSU to three NCAA Tournament appearances. "I look forward to working closely with coach Payne to ensure we have the best and most sound basketball program in the SWAC. Coaching is my passion, something I live and breathe, and being part of this institution brings forth many exciting opportunities."

The Vicksburg, Miss. native has been recognized several times for his work, including being voted one of the best mid-major assistant coaches in NCAA Division I basketball by the collegeinsider.com. Then, in 2010, he was tabbed the SWAC Assistant Basketball Coach of the Year.

Strothers has recruited a plethora of talent including former NBA guard Trey Johnson, who starred at JSU and was named the SWAC MVP.

He graduated from Vicksburg High School and came to Jackson State as a basketball hopeful. Strothers was an All-County football player in high school, but had less than one year of basketball experience as he saw action in only two games his senior year.

He was a walk-on player when then-assistant coach Chris Giles (former Tigers associate head coach) discovered the package of tremendous potential Strothers possessed. By the time Strothers left Jackson State, he was a first-team All-SWAC forward who led Jackson State to a regular season conference title; a SWAC tournament title and a chance to play in the NCAA tournament play-in game against Coastal Carolina.

He was voted the team’s Most Valuable Player his junior and senior seasons and garnered a SWAC Player-of-the-Week and Black Entertainment Television (BET) Player-of-the-Week honors during his senior campaign. His 17.4 points per game average during his senior year put him in the Jackson State 1,000 point Club as he finished his collegiate career with 1,251 total points.

Strothers graduated from Jackson State with a bachelor of science degree in criminal justice. He was drafted in the fourth round by the Sioux Falls franchise of the Continental Basketball Association (CBA) and played in the exhibition season for the South Dakota team before deciding to play overseas. Strothers started in the Holland Pro League for a season before playing in Hong Kong where he led his team to second place in division play, the team’s best finish.

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