Three Finalists Named For AASU Men's Basketball Head Coach

SAVANNAH, Ga. - Armstrong Atlantic State has announced the three finalists for its open head men’s basketball coaching position. All three candidates will visit the Savannah campus this week, which will include meet and greet sessions for the Savannah community and media.

Current Newberry College head men’s basketball coach Jeremy Luther will visit AASU on Tuesday. Luther is in his second season as the head coach of the Scarlet and Gray, and this season he led Newberry to a 21-8 overall record and a 10-6 finish in the South Atlantic Conference, turning around a team that went 12-16 in his first season. A graduate of North Greenville College in 1999, Luther was an assistant coach at Mercer University for six seasons before taking the head coaching position at Newberry.

Former University of Georgia assistant Mike Jones will visit AASU on Wednesday. A member of former UGA head coach Dennis Felton’s staff from 2003 until last season, Jones is a 13-year veteran of college coaching. He has also made coaching stops at West Virginia, Richmond, Furman and his alma mater, Howard. A four-year starter for the Bison, he graduated from Howard in 1990.

Current Tusculum College head coach Jim Boone will visit AASU on Thursday. Boone is a 23-year veteran in the collegiate coaching ranks, compiling 383 career wins, including 288 at the NCAA DII level. This past year, Boone led Tusculum to the NCAA Southeast Regional and directed the Pioneers to a 20-11 overall record and a 10-6 mark in the South Atlantic Conference. Prior to Tusculum, Boone led the California (Pa.) program for 10 seasons, leading the Vulcans to seven NCAA tournaments and two Final Four appearances. Boone graduated from West Virginia State in 1981, where he was a four-year player.

Members of the media and community are welcome to come meet the three finalists this week. Jeremy Luther will meet the community at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday at Alumni Arena, with Mike Jones slated to meet at 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday. Jim Boone will meet the community at 1:00 p.m., and all meetings will take place at the Armstrong Sports Center.