UNC Asheville named long-time assistant Nick McDevitt as its new head basketball coach at a news conference today at Kimmel Arena.
McDevitt, 34, played for the Bulldogs from 1997-2001 and is an ’01 graduate. He had served as an assistant at Asheville under coach Eddie Biedenbach for the past 12 seasons, the last two as associate head coach.
Biedenbach, who posted a 256-258 record in 17 seasons at the school, resigned April 2 to become an assistant coach at UNC Wilmington. He won five Big South Conference titles, led the team to three NCAA tournaments and is the program’s all-time leader in wins.
There’ve been some controversy associated with Biedenbach’s sudden decision to leave UNCA for an assistant coaching job at UNC Wilmington. Background here and here.
6 Comments
There’s an interesting “conversation” going on in the Citizen-Times about the appointment of Nick McDevitt: http://www.citizen-times.com/comments/article/20130427/SPORTS/304270016/Bulldogs-hire-McDevitt. One reader suspects that the entire search was a charade, with McDevitt the predetermined choice. This reader suspects that the McDevitt family political connections may have played a role.
Congrats Nick! Great example of putting in a ton of hours and hard work, then reaping the rewards when it is time.
If Keith Jarrett has a beef, we should BBQ it
To the first respondent: I doubt Keith Jarrett has a beef with UNCA. When the AD tells you one thing and you find out that’s not the truth, you dig into it. It’s what good reporters do. The Southern Conference commissioner saved UNCA’s ass last year by allowing the Women’s Southern Conference Quarter-finals to be played at the Justice Center. There is no imagination at play here. It was reality. Kudos to Keith for not being snowed. Apparently, you were. Regarding Nick McDevitt: Excellent choice. Well-deserved. Nick’s a high character guy and I believe he’s ready for this job. By the way, did you see Keith’s stories on Nick’s hiring? Very positive. Doesn’t sound like a beef to me, does it? Keith’s job is to report…good, bad or ugly. Throwing your mens basketball team under the bus was UGLY.
“For some reason, Keith Jarrett has a beef with UNCA administration.” Keith Jarrett isn’t the only with a “beef with UNCA administration.” Faculty and staff ain’t happy either. Take a look at last two comments here: http://ashvegas.com/demosite/in-wake-of-popular-unca-coachs-departure-questions-about-chancellors-leadership
There’s been really no controversy on the UNCA campus about Eddie B’s departure, and this is an excellent choice for his replacement.
For some reason, Keith Jarrett has a beef with UNCA administration. We all know a conflict arose last year with the Big South/Southern championships (Jarrett mentions it whenever possible). But the conflict was solved with no problems, so he needs to let it go. Ashevegas doesn’t need to spend time perpetuating his imagined “controversy”.