Winthrop made a splash on Thursday by naming Pat Kelsey as its new head coach. Kelsey was considered a rising star in the coaching ranks before stepping down as Xavier’s Associate Head Coach last season to spend more time with his family.
Only 35 years old, the former Wake Forest assistant saw first-hand what happened to Skip Prosser and no doubt saw what Urban Myer was going through. Now a year later, Kelsey feels he is ready to get back into coaching and what better a place than Winthrop?
Kelsey was known as a high-energy guy and certainly that is something that Winthrop fans have been wanting ever since Gregg Marshall left to go to Wichita State. It is curious that a day after Coach Marshall was named to the Big South Hall of Fame that Winthrop would name an energetic up and comer in the coaching profession.
He is known for a fast paced offense and a strong emphasis on defense. He also earned a reputation as an innovative marketer during his time at Wake Forest. He worked with current XU head coach and former Wake assistant Chris Mack and Wake marketing to produce the "Tie-Dye Nation" campaign, which still thrives today as the heartbeat of the Wake Forest fan base.
Kelsey is just the sixth head men’s basketball coach in Winthrop history (The Eagles began men’s basketball in 1977) following Nield Gordon, Steve Vacendak, Dan Kenney, Marshall, and Randy Peele.
Eagle fans should be encouraged by this hire and expect a news conference sometime mid-next week to officially welcome their new coach.
