Gardner-Webb University announced the hiring of Ohio assistant basketball coach Chris Holtmann as the head coach of its men's basketball team in a news conference yesterday morning.
This has been a tremendously humbling
yet thrilling experience and I am honored to earn the title of head basketball coach here at Gardner-Webb University Holtmann said. The rich tradition of this basketball program is very important to this school and the community as a whole.
Holtmann will replace Rick Scruggs, who spent the last 15 years as Gardner-Webb's head coach. Holtmann currently makes $72,000 annually.
Ohio coach John Groce hired Holtmann as an assistant coach two years ago. The Bobcats went 37-32 during those two seasons.
I'm thrilled for him
Groce said. He's more than ready to be a head coach
and I'm confident he'll be able to run Gardner-Webb's basketball program at a high level.
Speculation arose earlier in the week when FOXSports.com senior college basketball writer Jeff Goodman reported that Gardner-Webb planned to hire Holtmann.
Gardner-Webb is not an unfamiliar school for Holtmann. He served five years in Boiling Springs, N.C., as an assistant coach to Scruggs before coming to Athens.
With Holtmann's departure, Groce will begin the search to hire a new assistant coach. During yesterday's news conference, he said he has a fairly good idea about the situation, but declined to mention anyone specifically.
After the news conference, members of the media had a chance to see some of the Bobcats practice without their former assistant coach as Groce held a skill-instruction workout with the players and coaches that was open to the media.
Freshmen David McKinley and D.J. Cooper as well as juniors Tommy Freeman and Armon Bassett participated in dribbling and shooting drills.
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Vince Nairn
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