Following up on a rumor that HoopDirt.com posted this weekend…

University of South Carolina men’s basketball head coach Frank Martin announced the hiring of Bruce Shingler as an assistant coach. Shingler recently finished his fourth season as an assistant at Towson. He also has coached at Morgan State and worked with Martin at Kansas State as an administrative assistant.

“I am so excited to add Bruce to our Gamecock basketball family,” Martin said. “There is a mutual familiarity with Bruce from our time together at K-State. He is a former high school teacher and basketball coach that fits our model for player development. He also has made a name for himself with his recruiting efforts in helping his previous employers improve during his time there. He and his family will be a valuable asset to our players, staff, campus and community.”

After he served as a four-year starter and Academic All-American point guard at St. Augustine’s College from 2001-05, Shingler moved into the field of coaching and has found success at the high school, AAU and collegiate levels.

In his first season at Towson, Shingler helped the Tigers set the NCAA Division I record for largest single-season turnaround, going from one win in 2011-12 to 18 in 2012-13. His second season saw the Tigers record 25 wins, their most at the Division I level, and advance to the quarterfinals of the CollegeInsider.com Tournament (CIT). This past season, the team reached 20 wins again, and participated in the Vegas 16 postseason tournament.

Prior to his collegiate coaching career, Shingler led the Bladensburg (Md.) High School boy’s team, leading them to an 18-5 record in his lone season before making the jump to the college ranks. He also coached AAU for the DC Assault 17U team, sending over 40 members to Division I institutions in his tenure, including McDonald’s All-Americans Michael Beasley, Wally Judge and Quinn Cook.

“I am both extremely thrilled and humbled to be joining the University of South Carolina Basketball family. The opportunity to be a part of Coach Martin’s staff is an incredible honor,” Shingler said. “Having worked with Coach Martin prior to this at Kansas State, I have always admired his tireless work ethic and tremendous character up close and from afar. He is a great mentor and friend. I cannot wait to get started, helping Coach Martin to continue to build a brand of excellence here at South Carolina and in the Southeastern Conference.”

Shingler earned his Bachelors of Science Degree in Communications in 2005 from St. Augustine’s College. He has a son, Giovonni.

http://www.gamecocksonline.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/050316aac.html

Photo Courtesy USC Athletics