Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Raiders introduce new basketball coach McDevitt
3/27/2018 4:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – A whirlwind of a week continued Tuesday morning for new Middle Tennessee basketball coach Nick McDevitt.
The former UNC Asheville head man was officially introduced at a special press conference at 10 a.m. in the Murphy Center in front of media, fans, board members and students. He now starts a new era as the 20th men's basketball coach in Middle Tennessee program history.
"Under the leadership of former head coach Kermit Davis, MTSU has become one of the top men's basketball programs in the nation," MT President Sidney A. McPhee said in his opening statement. "As a result, we have strengthened the national brand of our university, and we've witnessed how the spotlight that comes with success in the postseason can shine not only on the team, but the university and its athletic programs.
"There was considerable national interest in this vacancy … and I'm confident [McDevitt] will find the Glass House, Murphy Center and MTSU a great place to live, to work and succeed, and I'm proud that you and your family are now True Blue."
The 38-year-old McDevitt was chosen from a large list of candidates that spanned the nation.
He was announced as the new coach on Saturday, March 24, five days after former head coach Kermit Davis was introduced in the same position at Ole Miss after being at MT for 16 years.
"We are here after an extensive national search where dozens of candidates were vetted and many, many more were interviewed," Director of Athletics Chris Massaro said in his opening statement introducing McDevitt. "We knew exactly what we were looking for and focused our search on high-character individuals … it's impossible to be a great leader without high character, and we've found that in our head coach."
McDevitt's hiring comes at what he described as both the perfect time and a difficult time.
His wife, Lauren, and their son, Cooper Lee, welcomed newborn Kathryn Ann to their family on Thursday, one day before he was in Murfreesboro ironing out contract details and accepting the Blue Raider head coaching position.
The changes have created a frenzied few days for the family, but McDevitt said the help they've already gotten from the Middle Tennessee community has made the transition much easier than it could have been. It also helps solidify his excitement to be in Murfreesboro.
"The last several days have been a whirlwind for my family – very exciting, hectic times, sleepless times – but we are really excited," McDevitt said. "Everywhere I've gone, people have been so welcoming, so inviting. We are looking forward to getting over here and getting to know a lot of you folks even better as we move forward."
McDevitt comes to Middle Tennessee after spending the last 21 years at UNC Asheville.
He was an 18-year-old guard when he signed to play with the Bulldogs in 1997, and after his playing career ended in 2001, former head coach Eddie Biedenbach immediately appointed McDevitt to his staff as an assistant coach.
It didn't take long for McDevitt to prove his coaching ability, and after 10 years he was named associate head coach prior to the 2011-12 season, taking over the head job in 2013 upon Biedenbach's resignation.
In his five seasons as head coach, UNC Asheville experienced high-level success, going 98-66 overall with three consecutive 20-win campaigns in the last three seasons that included trips to the NCAA Tournament (2016), CollegeInsider.com Tournament (2017) and National Invitation Tournament (2018).
McDevitt walked onto the UNC Asheville campus as an 18-year-old guard looking to find his way, and he left 21 years later as one of its most athletically accomplished alumni.
"My wife and I have loved and still love Asheville and UNC Asheville," he said. "From the perspective of a town, a city, it has nurtured me, nurtured our family and helped make us who we are. I got there as an 18-year-old and left four or five days ago, and it's been a great place."
During the press conference on Tuesday, McDevitt also shed some light on what his team may look like on the court.
Blue Raider faithful will see a similar style of defense, with the 1-3-1 zone serving as its base, but offensively things could be very different.
Over the past few seasons, Davis' teams have been some of the slowest in the nation, primarily running out of half-court sets. McDevitt wants the Raiders to pick up the pace some.
"We're going to be a tough, gritty, defensive-minded basketball team … a team that can grind out wins," he said. "On the flip side, I like playing an up-tempo style of basketball. We're going to get up and down the floor. That's the way I like to coach, and I assume and hope our players enjoy playing that way."
Now that McDevitt is in the 'Boro, he and his wife will go through the normal procedures of a family relocation. He'll also work on hiring a staff and hitting the recruiting trail, starting first with current MT 2018 signees Tye Fagan, KJ Buffen and Carlos Curry.
It's clear Middle Tennessee believes it found its man, and McDevitt ended his presser with two perfect words: "Go Raiders."
The former UNC Asheville head man was officially introduced at a special press conference at 10 a.m. in the Murphy Center in front of media, fans, board members and students. He now starts a new era as the 20th men's basketball coach in Middle Tennessee program history.
"Under the leadership of former head coach Kermit Davis, MTSU has become one of the top men's basketball programs in the nation," MT President Sidney A. McPhee said in his opening statement. "As a result, we have strengthened the national brand of our university, and we've witnessed how the spotlight that comes with success in the postseason can shine not only on the team, but the university and its athletic programs.
"There was considerable national interest in this vacancy … and I'm confident [McDevitt] will find the Glass House, Murphy Center and MTSU a great place to live, to work and succeed, and I'm proud that you and your family are now True Blue."
The 38-year-old McDevitt was chosen from a large list of candidates that spanned the nation.
He was announced as the new coach on Saturday, March 24, five days after former head coach Kermit Davis was introduced in the same position at Ole Miss after being at MT for 16 years.
"We are here after an extensive national search where dozens of candidates were vetted and many, many more were interviewed," Director of Athletics Chris Massaro said in his opening statement introducing McDevitt. "We knew exactly what we were looking for and focused our search on high-character individuals … it's impossible to be a great leader without high character, and we've found that in our head coach."
McDevitt's hiring comes at what he described as both the perfect time and a difficult time.
His wife, Lauren, and their son, Cooper Lee, welcomed newborn Kathryn Ann to their family on Thursday, one day before he was in Murfreesboro ironing out contract details and accepting the Blue Raider head coaching position.
The changes have created a frenzied few days for the family, but McDevitt said the help they've already gotten from the Middle Tennessee community has made the transition much easier than it could have been. It also helps solidify his excitement to be in Murfreesboro.
"The last several days have been a whirlwind for my family – very exciting, hectic times, sleepless times – but we are really excited," McDevitt said. "Everywhere I've gone, people have been so welcoming, so inviting. We are looking forward to getting over here and getting to know a lot of you folks even better as we move forward."
McDevitt comes to Middle Tennessee after spending the last 21 years at UNC Asheville.
He was an 18-year-old guard when he signed to play with the Bulldogs in 1997, and after his playing career ended in 2001, former head coach Eddie Biedenbach immediately appointed McDevitt to his staff as an assistant coach.
It didn't take long for McDevitt to prove his coaching ability, and after 10 years he was named associate head coach prior to the 2011-12 season, taking over the head job in 2013 upon Biedenbach's resignation.
In his five seasons as head coach, UNC Asheville experienced high-level success, going 98-66 overall with three consecutive 20-win campaigns in the last three seasons that included trips to the NCAA Tournament (2016), CollegeInsider.com Tournament (2017) and National Invitation Tournament (2018).
McDevitt walked onto the UNC Asheville campus as an 18-year-old guard looking to find his way, and he left 21 years later as one of its most athletically accomplished alumni.
"My wife and I have loved and still love Asheville and UNC Asheville," he said. "From the perspective of a town, a city, it has nurtured me, nurtured our family and helped make us who we are. I got there as an 18-year-old and left four or five days ago, and it's been a great place."
During the press conference on Tuesday, McDevitt also shed some light on what his team may look like on the court.
Blue Raider faithful will see a similar style of defense, with the 1-3-1 zone serving as its base, but offensively things could be very different.
Over the past few seasons, Davis' teams have been some of the slowest in the nation, primarily running out of half-court sets. McDevitt wants the Raiders to pick up the pace some.
"We're going to be a tough, gritty, defensive-minded basketball team … a team that can grind out wins," he said. "On the flip side, I like playing an up-tempo style of basketball. We're going to get up and down the floor. That's the way I like to coach, and I assume and hope our players enjoy playing that way."
Now that McDevitt is in the 'Boro, he and his wife will go through the normal procedures of a family relocation. He'll also work on hiring a staff and hitting the recruiting trail, starting first with current MT 2018 signees Tye Fagan, KJ Buffen and Carlos Curry.
It's clear Middle Tennessee believes it found its man, and McDevitt ended his presser with two perfect words: "Go Raiders."
2025 MTSU Basketball tickets on sale now - October 1st
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