UT Martin Names New Men’s Basketball Coach
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MARTIN, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee at Martin introduced Heath Schroyer as its ninth men‘s basketball coach in program history at a press conference held at the Kathleen and Tom Elam Center on Thursday afternoon. “I have known Heath for several years,” UT Martin athletics director Julio Freire said. “I know he represents the qualities in a coach that our student-athletes, Chancellor, search committee and community are looking for. Today is a great day to be a Skyhawk!” “We are excited and fortunate to secure Coach Schroyer to lead our men‘s basketball team,” UT Martin Chancellor Dr. Tom Rakes said. “Coach Schroyer has demonstrated his expertise as a successful college coach for nearly two decades and we believe he will be a positive driving force for men‘s basketball.” Schroyer, 42, brings 18 years of collegiate coaching experience to the Skyhawk program, including seven years as a head coach at the Division-I level. All six of Schroyer‘s stops at a Division-I institution has culminated in either a conference championship or postseason play. “I am obviously very humbled and excited to be here,” Schroyer said. “I‘ve been really impressed throughout the entire process with the upper administration and with Julio. I think we are on the cusp of accomplishing some great things. I‘ve been doing this quite a long time but I‘ve learned a lot and I‘m ready to bring all of those experiences to UT Martin. I am anxious to get started and start trying to accomplish our goals.” A native of Walkersville, Md., Schroyer has spent the last three seasons at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas working as the associate head coach under Dave Rice. The Runnin‘ Rebels sported three 20-plus win seasons, a 71-32 overall record (29-19 against Mountain West Conference opposition) and appearances in the 2012 and 2013 NCAA Tournaments in Schroyer‘s tenure. Named by Bleacher Report as one of college basketball‘s top 15 assistant coaches before the start of the 2012-13 season, Schroyer coordinated UNLV‘s recruiting efforts since he joined the staff in 2011. The Runnin‘ Rebels‘ 2012 recruiting class was ranked No. 7 in the nation by ESPN and one year later, UNLV produced Anthony Bennett – the No. 1 overall selection by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2013 NBA Draft. Bennett joined Larry Johnson (Charlotte Hornets, 1991) as the only players in UNLV‘s prestigious history be selected first in the NBA Draft.
