Claflin selects new leaders for its Men's and Women's Basketball Programs
ORANGEBURG, SC—Claflin University named Scott Monarch as the new leader of the Men’s Basketball program, while promoting Lady Panther’s assistant Deont’a McChester as the new head coach of the women’s program, the school announced today at a press conference.
“We believe we have selected two coaches who will demand academic excellence and adhere to the Claflin Guiding Principles, and will continue our tradition of athletic excellence,” said Claflin President Dr. Henry Tisdale.
Monarch is coming to Claflin from the University of Northern Colorado, and was an assistant at Marquette University from 2008-2012 where he helped lead the Golden Eagles to four NCAA Tournament appearances.
“This team will have to be in shape mentally and physically because I will be demanding on them academically as well as physically,” said Monarch, who has over 22-years of College Basketball coaching experience. “We plan to be physically and stretch the entire floor, all 94-feet, especially defensively with our full court press.”
Coach McChester, a native of Flint, Michigan, is very familiar with the program after being named as the top assistant last season. McChester’s vision for the women’s program is to get the team back to its winning ways by working hard on and off the court, in addition to being aggressive and fast on offense and defense.
McChester credits his coaching philosophy to legendary Claflin head coach Nelson Bronwlee.
“Coaches may come and coaches may go but it doesn’t mean anything if you have not have an impact on the players,” said McChester.