Western Carolina head men’s basketball coach Justin Gray has finalized his inaugural assistant coaching staff, it was announced this week.
Joining Gray are veteran collegiate coach Jayson Gee, who has 31 years of coaching experience including 10 seasons as a head coach, as the Catamounts’ associate head coach. Gee is flanked by assistant coaches Brian Graves, who comes to Cullowhee after spending two seasons on the bench at North Carolina Central, and Zack Freesman, who worked alongside Gray at Winthrop
Gray completed his staff with the addition of Molly Bachand as the Director of Basketball Operations.
“One of the most important things that I had to do first was to get the right people around me here,” said Gray about completing his staff at WCU. “I’ve been able to do that with the staff. They all complement me very well and we will build this program together. More importantly they are great people, have a passion to help young people, and work ethic and desire to win.”
Gee brings over 30 years of collegiate coaching experience to the Catamount men’s basketball staff, most recently working the sidelines as an assistant coach at the University of Cincinnati after working alongside Gray as a member of Pat Kelsey’s staff at Winthrop in 2018-19.
Gee’s more than three decades of coaching experience includes head coaching positions at Longwood (2014-18) and Division II-member Charleston (1997-2003) in West Virginia, compiling a career mark of 202-175.
Gee also has served as an assistant or associate head coach at Youngstown State (1990-93), Ohio (1994-96), St. Bonaventure (2004-06) and Cleveland State (2007-13). While at Cleveland State, Gee helped guide the Vikings to four 20-win seasons and four postseason appearances, including an automatic bid into the 2009 NCAA Tournament, where the Vikings knocked off Wake Forest in the first round.
Head Coach Justin Gray on Jayson Gee:
“Jayson is one of the most respected coaches in college basketball. The impact he will have on our staff, our players and this community will be tremendously profound. Iam lucky to have Jayson on my staff. His wealth of knowledge and experience as a head coach will be invaluable to me in all areas of our program. More importantly, Jayson is a great person and I’m so excited to have him and his family joining the Catamount family.”
Graves joined the Catamount coaching staff in April 2021 after spending the past two seasons as an assistant coach at North Carolina Central in Durham, N.C., and at Big South-member Longwood in 2018-19. Graves also has coaching experience at Bryant & Stratton in Buffalo, N.Y., as well as at Catawba College, his alma mater. Before beginning his coaching career, Graves played professionally in Germany for four seasons followed by two seasons playing professionally in the United States with the Vermont Frost Heaves in the Premier Basketball League and the Tru Hope Trailblazers in the Atlantic Coast Professional Basketball League.
Head Coach Justin Gray on Brian Graves:
“Brian’s reputation as a recruiter speaks for itself. He truly has an eye for talent and knows how to cultivate genuine relationships. He also does a great job developing that talent in the classroom, on the court and in the community. I know he will bring value to our program and I’m excited to have him on board.”
Freesman is very familiar with Gray, working alongside the Catamount head coach as the Director of Basketball Operations at Winthrop for the previous two seasons after starting his tenure in Rock Hill as the Video Coordinator during the 2018-19 season.
Prior to Winthrop, Freesman was a graduate assistant at VCU and was a part of a squad that reached the 2017 NCAA Tournament. He graduated from the University of North Florida in 2016 and was a manager for the Osprey’s men’s basketball teams for each of his four years which included two ASUN championships and a 2015 NCAA Tournament appearance.
Head Coach Justin Gray on Zack Freesman:
“Zack is a relentless worker who I have worked alongside for the last two seasons at Winthrop. It was a no-brainer hire for me because I saw daily what he brought to the table. He will do the same here at WCU. I truly admired how detailed he was and how much he cared about the players. I’m thrilled to have Zack with me in Cullowhee.”
Bachand joined the Catamount men’s basketball staff as the Director of Basketball Operations, after spending the previous five years at Wake Forest. While at Wake Forest, Bachand was the Director of Equipment Services for the men’s and women’s basketball programs. She has worked previously similar positions at UAB, Kansas, and Colorado.
Head Coach Justin Gray on Molly Bachand:
“I’m grateful to have Molly join my staff and the Catamount family. She’s a very organized, smart and diligent worker. I noticed all these characteristics during our time working together at Wake Forest.”
