Francis Marion University athletic director Murray Hartzler announced on Friday (April 4) the hiring of Columbus State University athletic director and former women’s basketball coach Jay Sparks as FMU’s new head coach for women’s basketball.
Sparks replaces Kate Glusko, who coached the Patriots for the past four seasons. Sparks becomes the 12th head coach in the storied history of the Francis Marion program.
"After an exhaustive search that looked at different candidates from across the country, I am very excited to announce that we have found the right choice to lead our women’s program," Hartzler said. "In a pool of candidates from all levels of play, Jay stood out as a person who could create a winning atmosphere immediately. He is a very respected coach that has won nearly 400 games, including ten 20-win seasons, and been named the Peach Belt Coach of the Year on three occasions. His experience and knowledge of basketball in the Southeast give us instant credibility heading into the 2014-15 season."
Sparks has been the athletic director at CSU for the past six years after leaving the coaching bench in 2009 to move into athletic administration.
"I am very excited about this new opportunity, and I want to thank (FMU president) Dr. (Fred) Carter and Murray for the chance to return to the job I love most – coaching," Sparks said.
"I am proud of what we accomplished at Columbus State University during my time as athletic director, but this chance to return to the sidelines as a collegiate coach was something I could not pass up. I missed the highs of walking the sideline and directing student-athletes on the court. The women’s basketball program at Francis Marion is as rich in tradition as any in the country, at any level. From Sylvia Hatchell to Pearl Moore, Wes Moore to Heather Macy, this is a storied program that I hope to return to national prominence.
"The forward of my career and a major chapter will be focused in Columbus, Ga., and at Columbus State University, but I am now looking forward with excitement and enthusiasm to this new chapter in Florence and at Francis Marion."
Sparks began the Columbus State women’s basketball program in 1989 and led the program to national notoriety. It only took him only five seasons to produce a 20-win squad, in 1993-94. His 2000-01 team went 31-1 and reached the NCAA Division II Final Four (for the second straight year). His program won the PBC regular season crown in 1998 and 2001, while sharing the title in 1995 and 2003. CSU won the PBC Tournament championship in 2000 and 2001, and six times the Lady Cougars earned invitations to the NCAA Division II national tournament.
His 20-year career record stands at 367-231, including an even more impressive .677 winning percentage over the final 16 seasons. Sparks compiled ten 20-win seasons and earned PBC Coach of the Year recognition three times (1994, 1998, 2001), while coaching 21 All-Conference performers and two All-Americans.
Sparks amassed a 22-18 record coaching against FMU.
In 1997, he assumed assistant athletic director responsibilities, and then became the athletic director in 2008. He left the coaching ranks in 2009 to concentrate fully on his duties as athletic director. At CSU, he oversaw the addition of five sports, and the institution served as host for the 2011 NCAA Rifle Championships.
Before starting the program at Columbus State, Sparks also recorded a 63-39 record coaching high school girls’ basketball.
A native of Columbus, Sparks earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, where he played for four seasons on the baseball team. During his career, he earned Freshman Pitcher of the Year accolades, threw two no-hitters, was voted team captain twice, and received All-Tennessee Team honors as a senior.
Sparks has been married to his wife Cindy for (31) years and they have two grown children.
The Francis Marion program has an all-time record of 803-407 in 41 seasons and ranks eighth among all NCAA Division II institutions in total wins. The Patriots have captured two national championships, the 1982 AIAW Division II title and the 1986 NAIA title, and also advanced to the 1998 NCAA Division II Final Four. The program made five straight NCAA Division II Tournament appearances between 1997 and 2001, and four consecutive appearances between 2008 and 2011.
Francis Marion lost three seniors from this past season’s 13-13 squad that failed to qualify for the PBC Tournament for the third consecutive year. The Patriots were 7-12 in Peach Belt Conference play, placing fifth in the East Division standings.
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