ROCK HILL, SC—Winthrop Athletic Director Tom Hickman announced today that Randy Peele, an Eagle assistant coach for the past four years, has been hired as the university’s new men’s basketball head coach replacing Gregg Marshall who has accepted the head coaching position at Wichita State.
A press conference is scheduled for 2 p.m. Monday in the Eagle Club Room of the Winthrop Coliseum to formally introduce Peele as the new head coach.
Peele is the fifth head men’s basketball coach in Winthrop’s 28-year history. He takes over a program that has captured three consecutive Big South Conference championships and made three trips to the NCAA tournament during his four years on the Eagle coaching staff. During his Winthrop tenure, the 49-year-old Norfolk, Virginia native has been instrumental in the success of the program through his involvement in recruiting, on-the-court coaching, practice instruction, and scouting opponents.
Over the past three seasons, Winthrop has compiled a 79-19 record (.805 pct.), including a 29-5 mark in 2006-07. The Eagles became the first team in Big South men’s basketball history to complete the regular season undefeated with a 14-0 record and they became the first team in school and Big South history to win a first round NCAA tournament game as they defeated Notre Dame 74-64 on March 16.
Peele is no stranger to head coaching in the Big South Conference. He served as the head coach at UNC Greensboro, a former conference member, from 1995 until 1999 and led that school to the Big South Conference championship in 1996 and UNCG’s first trip to the NCAA tournament. He also spent four years (1991-95) as an assistant coach at UNCG and helped lead the Spartans to two Big South titles and a conference tournament championship. Peele has a total of 15 other years as a college assistant coach, including stints at Virginia Tech (1999-2002), Campbell (1988-1991), Tennessee-Martin (1985-88), and St. Michael’s College in Vermont (1983-1985).
“President DiGiorgio and I felt that in Randy Peele we have the best coach right here to build on the success and tradition of our men’s basketball program,” said Hickman. “Randy Peele has been an integral part in that success and we believe the future of Winthrop basketball will continue to flourish under his leadership.”
“To be named the head coach of Winthrop University is an honor. I want to thank Dr. DiGiorgio and Tom Hickman for having the confidence in me to lead this program into the future,” said Peele. “What has been accomplished here in the last nine years is remarkable and just speaks volumes for Coach Marshall, the staff, the players and the administration. We will do everything possible to maintain the benchmark that has been set.”
As Marshall departs for his new coaching job, Hickman said, “We wish Gregg and his family the very best as they move to Wichita State. Over the past nine years, Gregg has taken Winthrop basketball to new heights and we are very appreciative of his efforts. Under Randy Peele, we intend to stand on the shoulders of that success to reach even greater achievements.”
Marshall left Winthrop after leading the Eagles to a 194-83 record and seven Big South Conference championships and NCAA tournament appearances in his nine years.
