CONWAY, SC – Coastal Carolina has hired former Western Carolina coach Justin Gray as its men's basketball coach.
Gray will join the Chanticleers after three seasons with the Catamounts. He will take over the role full-time after Cliff Ellis, who led four schools to the NCAA Tournament in 49 seasons, resigned in December. Benny Moss had been the Chanticleers' interim coach since then.
Coastal Carolina athletic director Matt Hogue said Gray has talent and a strong connection to the region.
“He simply has a clear vision for Chanticleer basketball,” he said in a statement.
Gray led Western Carolina to back-to-back winning seasons for the first time in 13 years. He also served as an assistant coach at Winthrop and director of basketball development at Wake Forest, his alma mater.
Gray was a three-time All-ACC player with the Demon Deacons from 2002-06.
The Chanticleers finished 9-22 and were second to last in the Sun Belt Conference at 5-13.
