The South Carolina Gamecocks have hired Chattanooga Mocs Head Coach Lamont Paris to be the program’s next Head Coach. This comes shortly after the program fired longtime Head Coach Frank Martin after several disappointing seasons in the SEC. South Carolina had several targets including Paris, but several of them picked other programs. The Gamecocks after continuing to weigh their options go with the Chattanooga Mocs Head Coach.
Sources: South Carolina and Chattanooga coach Lamont Paris have finalized a five-year deal to make him the school’s next head coach. Paris led Chattanooga to a 27-8 record this season and the school’s first NCAA bid since 2016. (Reporting with @jeffborzello).
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) March 22, 2022
In his five seasons with the Chattanooga Mocs, Lamont Paris led the team to an overall record of 87-71 and a conference record of 43-45. He won the Southern Conference regular-season championship and Tournament Championship one time each. Both of those wins came this season as well as Paris being named the Southern Conference Coach of the Year. This was also the sole season he led the team to the NCAA Tournament. That being said the Mocs showed improvement each season under the tenure of Paris.
SEC Hires:
Georgia: Mike White
Missouri: Dennis Gates
Mississippi State: Chris Jans
Florida: Todd Golden
LSU: Matt McMahon
South Carolina: Lamont ParisOne coach who got out before he was let go, and 5 other mid-major coaches.
Tough to poach guys from other high-major spots.
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) March 22, 2022
The SEC saw a massive coaching overhaul this offseason and it will be interesting to see how each program’s hire works out. The Chattanooga Mocs will have to search for a new Head Coach after finally returning to the NCAA Tournament after several years of being away.
