Following-up on something that I first mentioned on Sunday (D2 DIRT). Mick Hedgepeth has now officially been named as the new head men’s basketball coach at Alabama Huntsville. Here’s the statement from UAH announcing the move:
The University of Alabama in Huntsville Department of Athletics has announced the hiring of Mick Hedgepeth as head coach of the UAH men’s basketball program.
“I am incredibly excited to welcome Coach Hedgepeth as the next leader of the Chargers men’s basketball program,” said UAH Director of Athletics Dr. Cade Smith. “Coach Hedgepeth quickly separated himself as our top candidate, and I believe that his experience as a student-athlete, a professional, and a coach have prepared him well to be the leader of the Chargers. He is a proven winner who has played and worked for some great minds in the college game, and I am proud to welcome him and the rest of his family to UAH.”
Hedgepeth becomes the 10th head coach in UAH men’s basketball program history, as he most recently was the leader of the men’s basketball team at Berry College since 2022 with a record of 44-14 with the Vikings.
“I am extremely honored to accept the head men’s basketball coaching position at UAH. I want to thank Dr. Smith, UAH President Dr. Chuck Karr, and the rest of the committee for providing my family and I with this incredible opportunity,” coach Hedgepeth said. “As a native Alabamian who grew up attending Charger camps, clinics, and games, I could not be more excited to now lead a program that I’ve always respected and admired. I am extremely appreciative of the opportunity to embrace, cultivate, and build upon the tradition of excellence – both on and off the floor – alongside our staff, student-athletes, and community.”
In his time at Berry, Hedgepeth coached seven CSC Academic All-District honorees, two all-district performers and six all-conference awardees. He was also named Southern Athletic Association Coach of the Year in 2022-23, while leading the Vikings to an SAA Championship and an NCAA Division III tournament appearance in 2023-24.
Overall, Hedgepeth has four years of head coaching experience and a career record of 80-32 as he also had a two-season stint at Sewanee from 2017-19.
Prior to guiding Berry’s program, Hedgepeth served as Director of Basketball Operations at his alma mater Belmont for three seasons and helped the Bruins to a 77-19 overall record.
Hedgepeth also had a legendary playing career at Belmont from 2008-12, and was honored in the Belmont Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2023. He was a part of 96 victories, three conference championships, and two NCAA Tournament appearances while ranking amongst the program’s career leaders in points, rebounds, field goal percentage and blocked shots.
The 2011 NACDA Men’s Basketball Scholar-Athlete of the Year and a finalist for the Senior CLASS Award in 2012, Hedgepeth’s coaching career began as an assistant coach at Williams College in Massachusetts.
Hedgepeth and his wife, Courtney, have one daughter named Harper.
A welcome ceremony with Coach Hedgepeth – along with incoming women’s basketball head coach Allen Sharpe – will be held on Thursday at 2 p.m. at Spragins Hall.
