Marshall head coach Tony Kemper announced that Michael Scruggs has been added to the staff as an assistant coach.
Scruggs comes to Huntington after three seasons at Loyola University Chicago, where the Ramblers won six of their first eight games for the program’s best start in the last 17 seasons en route to their first postseason win in four years. Three Ramblers earned All-Missouri Valley Conference accolades, led by sophomore Abby O’Connor. O’Connor put together one of the top individual seasons by a Rambler in recent memory, averaging 14.6 points, 7.6 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game on her way to being named the first Rambler to earn First Team All-MVC honors since 2015-16. Freshmen Janae Gonzales and Allison Day burst on the scene with impressive debut campaigns for the Maroon & Gold, both receiving MVC All-Freshman Team nods.
“I am extremely thankful and thrilled for this opportunity to be a part of the already successful Marshall women’s basketball program,” said Scruggs. “Tony is someone I look up to in this profession and I look forward to learning under his leadership. The energy and passion this staff exudes makes me eager to join the Herd family. I am motivated and excited to work with our players and help take this program to the next level.”
Scruggs also served as an assistant coach at Cleveland State during the 2015-16 campaign. During Scruggs’ season in Northeast Ohio, Ashanti Abshaw was named the Horizon League’s Freshman of the Year, while Brooke Smith earned All-Defensive Team honors.
Scruggs joined Cleveland State following a successful three-year stint at LSU where he served as the team’s Director of Video Operations before being tabbed an interim assistant coach for the 2014-15 season. LSU made a pair of appearances in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament while Scruggs was on staff.
Before arriving in Baton Rouge, La., Scruggs was an assistant coach at Samford University for the 2011-12 season. The Knoxville, Tenn. product helped lead the Bulldogs to their second straight Southern Conference (SoCon) Tournament crown en route to appearing in the NCAA Tournament.
Scruggs got his start in the collegiate coaching ranks at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, serving as a graduate assistant for the 2009-10 and 2010-11 seasons. In 2010, the Mocs captured the SoCon Tournament title and earned the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
“I am really excited to add Michael to our staff,” said Kemper. “I believe strongly that he will help our program improve in all phases. He grew up in our region and has valuable coaching experience in this area. He is someone that our players, recruits and fans will enjoy having at Marshall.”
Scruggs earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Sports Management from the University of Tennessee in 2008 and his Master’s Degree in Special Education from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in 2011.
https://herdzone.com/news/2019/7/8/scruggs-named-marshall-womens-basketball-assistant-coach.aspx
