CONWAY, S.C. — 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 takes over the full-time job after Cliff Ellis, who took four schools to the NCAA tournament in 49 seasons, stepped down in December. Benny Moss had been the Chanticleers’ interim coach since then.
Coastal Carolina athletic director Matt Hogue said Gray is talented and has a strong connection to the region.
“Just has a clear vision for Chanticleer basketball,” he said in a statement.
Gray led Western Carolina to consecutive winning seasons for the first time in 13 years. He has also served as an assistant coach at Winthrop and the 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 next-to-last in the Sun Belt Conference at 5-13.