Anderson University Athletic Director Bill D’Andrea announced on Monday that former College of Coastal Georgia head coach and Georgia State University assistant coach, Jonathon Barbaree, has been named the Trojan basketball coach, effective for the 2016-17 season.
“We are extremely excited to have Jonathon Barbaree as our next head coach,” said D’Andrea. “His enthusiasm and commitment to coaching was evident during the hiring process. I’m looking forward to Coach Barbaree leading our team and building on the foundation of success already here at Anderson.”
Barbaree brings a wealth of collegiate coaching experience to the Anderson University program, having spent 20 years in the college ranks, 18 years as an assistant coach with three different programs and the past two seasons as a head coach for the College of Coastal Georgia posting a 24-35 overall record.
“I first want to thank Dr. William Carlton for the opportunity that I was given the last two years at the College of Coastal Georgia,” said Barbaree. CCGA will always hold a huge place in my heart. I want to wish the Mariners the best of luck with the future as I know the school and the athletic program is going to continue to grow and be successful.”
“As I move forward I am very grateful for this opportunity at Anderson University,” noted Barbaree. “I would like to thank Billy D’Andrea and President Whitaker for entrusting me with the opportunity to foster the growth of our women’s basketball program while continuing to support the University and its athletic department.”
Barbaree began coaching in 1995 as a student assistant at Georgia College. During his stint in Milledgeville, where he spent the first nine years of his coaching career, Barbaree helped the Bobcats compile a 178-87 overall record including three Peach Belt conference championships and four National Tournament berths. He was a student assistant for three seasons before coaching two seasons as a graduate assistant. He was promoted to full-time assistant prior to the 2000-2001 season and spent four seasons in that position.
Working under head coach John Carrick, he helped the Bobcats to three winning seasons and two Peach Belt Conference championships in 2002 and 2004. The Bobcats were the lowest-seeded team to come through the Peach Belt tournament and claim the conference crown in 2002. The 2004 team finished 28-6 and reached the Sweet 16 of the NCAA D-II tournament.
Barbaree left Georgia College after the 2004 campaign to take an assistant position at Furman University, where he worked for four seasons through 2008.
He then spent five years as an assistant coach at Georgia State in Atlanta. While working with the post players for the Lady Panthers, Barbaree was instrumental in the development of center Cody Paulk, who was named to the Colonial Athletic Association’s All-Defensive Team as a senior while setting a school-record with 77 blocks for the season. She finished her career with a school-record 210 blocks which ranks fifth all-time in the CAA.
“I look forward to continuing the success of the program which has been set forth from the previous staffs as well as the long winning tradition that has been established throughout history at Anderson University,” said Barbaree.
Barbaree earned his bachelor’s degree in business management from Georgia College in 1998 before also getting his master’s in health and physical education from the school in 2000.
A native of Atlanta, Barbaree is a graduate of Rockdale County High in Conyers, where he lettered in both basketball and baseball with the Bulldogs.
“I am excited to meet the team and get started right away on building relationships with not only the team but throughout the Anderson family and the surrounding community,” added Barbaree.
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Photo Courtesy Anderson Athletics
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