LIVINGSTON, Ala. – University of West
Alabama Director of Athletics E.J. Brophy
announced the hiring of Eddie McCarter as
the Tigers new Head Men’s Basketball Coach
on Monday afternoon, replacing longtime
sideline general Rick Reedy who retired at
seasons end.
“We have a
quality man in Eddie McCarter,” Brophy said.
“He runs an up-tempo offense and he is
excited about being at West Alabama. His
coaching record speaks for itself and we are
happy to have him here.”
McCarter,
a Birmingham, Ala. native, brings more than
30 years of coaching experience to UWA after
serving as an assistant coach under Mike
Davis at his alma mater, the University of
Alabama at Birmingham, for one season.
“I am very
excited about being here and becoming the
new basketball coach at the University of
West Alabama,” said McCarter. “I really
wanted to work at a school that was on an
even level and start chasing some
championships.”
Prior to
his stint at UAB, McCarter served as head
coach at the University of Texas at
Arlington for 14 seasons where he is the
all-time winningest coach in Mavericks
history. While at UTA, he recorded the
second most wins in Southland Conference
history with 179 and led the Mavs to the
2004 Southland Conference Championship.
Under his
direction, players at UTA received numerous
academic honors, including three Mav players
earning positions on a five-man SLC
All-Academic team in 2003 and GTE Academic
All-Americans in 1997 and 1998.
Before his
long career began at UTA, McCarter served as
an assistant at Howard College in Texas for
two years after a stint as the head coach at
Charles Henderson High School in Troy, Ala.
for nine seasons.
While at
Charles Henderson, McCarter led the Trojans
to the state playoffs three times, including
the Final Eight during the 1985-86 season
and they were the state runner-up in
1986-87. McCarter was named South Alabama
Coach of the Year from 1982-87 while at
Charles Henderson.
While bringing an
impressive coaching record to West Alabama,
McCarter hopes to rebuild the Tiger program
and guide the Tigers back to the top of the
Gulf South Conference.
Quotes:
Eddie
McCarter
On the
Gulf South Conference…
“The Gulf
South Conference is only Division II by
name. I watched the GSC Championship game
yesterday and noticed there are players that
could play anywhere in the country. We will
have to recruit and get guys who can play on
the Division I level.”
On style
of play…
“We will
play up-tempo and play hard. We want to give
fans something entertaining to watch and
create an atmosphere similar to Cameron
Indoor Stadium.”
About
himself…
“I’ve been
around basketball for a long time. I’m a
winner and I’ve got it in my blood. We will
have to recruit quality players here and
represent the university in a very positive
manner. I will be in touch with the coaches
around campus. I will support them and their
teams and hope they will do the same thing
for me.”
