Jeremy Luther has been named the head men's basketball coach at Armstrong Atlantic State University, announced today by incoming athletic director Andrew Carter.

Luther succeeds Jeff Burkhamer, who resigned after seven seasons in March to become the new head men's basketball coach at Lander University.

"I think this is a great opportunity," Luther said. "Armstrong Atlantic State is one of those jobs that I feel is one of the best in the country. I'm thrilled to get this opportunity at this stage of my career, and I am extremely optimistic about the future of Pirate basketball. I can't wait to get started."

In two seasons at Newberry, Luther has compiled a 33-24 overall record, including a 21-8 record in 2008-09, setting a school record for the most wins in a single season. Newberry finished in second in the South Atlantic Conference and also set a school record for most wins in SAC play, going 10-6 in the league.

Luther took over the Newberry program after serving six seasons as an assistant coach at Mercer University in Macon, Ga. Luther aided the Bears in capturing an Atlantic Sun Conference championship in 2003-04. While at Mercer, Luther was responsible for recruiting, strength and conditioning as well as scouting. Prior to joining Mercer, he was the head coach at Windsor Academy in Macon in 2000-01, as well as serving as an assistant at his alma mater, North Greenville, from 1998-2000. Luther received his bachelor's of arts degree in English from NGC in 1999.

"I'm pleased that we are able to bring Jeremy to Savannah as the new head men's basketball coach at Armstrong Atlantic State," Carter said. "I am very familiar wth him, and I'm excited about his opportunity to bring good things to AASU basketball."

Luther began his playing career at Robert Morris College where he played from 1992-93. After the season, he transferred to Liberty University where he played for two seasons. He would later transfer to Covenant College where he would score 1,300 points in two seasons with the Scots. Following his senior year, he was named an NAIA Division II All-American after finishing fourth in the country in scoring, averaging 26.0 ppg.

Luther was selected among a pool of finalists that included former University of Georgia assistant coach Mike Jones and current Tusculum head men's basketball coach Jim Boone.

"I really feel that we had a great group of coaches to interview," Carter said. "I was excited about the pool, and in the end, I felt like Jeremy was the best fit for Armstrong Atlantic."

Last year, the Armstrong Atlantic State men's basketbal team finished 23-7 overall and 15-5 in the Peach Belt Conference, advancing to the school's eighth NCAA Championships appearance and fashioning its 10th 20-win season. The Pirates lose five seniors from last year's squad and return 10 players for 2009-10.

Luther will be accompanied to Savannah by his wife, Ginny, and their one-year-old son, Bryson.

Evans Davis begins his first season as assistant men's basketball coach, as well as the head men's cross country coach at Armstrong Atlantic State University.

A former standout at Mercer University, Evans has spent the last three seasons as a member of Matt Kilcullen's men's basketball staff at the University of North Florida. He was elevated to the top assistant spot prior to last season, where he helped the Ospreys to their best record in Division I competition in 2008-09.

In his playing days, Davis played for two seasons at Truett McConnell in Cleveland, Ga., then transferred to Mercer, where he averaged 10.5 points and 5.7 rebounds per game in two years for the Bears. He began his collegiate coaching career at Mercer as a graduate assistant for the women's program, then went to Truett McConnell and spent five years as both an assistant and as the head men's basketball coach there before joining the University of North Florida coaching staff in 2006.

In addition to his duties with the men's basketball staff, Davis will also be the head coach of the reinstated men's cross country team, which will compete this fall after a 10-year hiatus. Men's cross country last competed at AASU in 1999 and the Pirates will open the fall season in September.

Evans earned his bachelor's degree in communications from Mercer in 2000.