Kelsey Adds Thomas Carr as Assistant Coach
5/25/2022 9:09:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Carr has 14 years of coaching experience, including stops at NC State and UNCW
CHARLESTON, S.C. – College of Charleston men's basketball head coach Pat Kelsey added Thomas Carr to the program's coaching staff as an assistant coach, Kelsey announced Wednesday. After a standout playing career at Pfeiffer University, Carr has dedicated the last 14 years to coaching hoops, including stops at North Carolina State, UNCW and East Tennessee State.
Known as a player's coach with a knack for recruiting and development at a high level, Carr spent the past two years serving as the Athletics Director at national high school powerhouse Word of God Christian Academy in Raleigh, North Carolina, which has produced NBA veterans John Wall and T.J. Warren, among others. In that two-year span, Carr has also helped countless coaching staffs across the country at all levels of the collegiate game as the Scouting Director of Your Fourth Assistant, and made a significant impact as the Director of Team Loaded NC, one of the premier AAU programs in the country.
"Thomas is the total package," Kelsey said. "First of all, he is a terrific human being that believes that shaping the lives of young people is a coach's biggest calling. Secondly, he is an accomplished coach with championship experience in the CAA. Third, he is an elite relationship builder. This not only makes him what I believe one of the nation's top recruiters but also someone beloved by players, coworkers, and members of the community. Thomas is a Division I head coach in the not-too-distant future, and I view his hire as a coup for The College. Our City."
Carr transitioned to the roles at Word of God, Your Fourth Assistant and Team Loaded after spending five combined seasons as an assistant coach under current North Carolina State head coach Kevin Keatts at both NC State and UNCW. During the 2017-18 and 2018-19 campaigns with Carr on staff, the Wolfpack went 45-24, highlighted by a trip to the Big Dance in 2018 after placing third in a loaded ACC.
In his three seasons at UNCW, Carr and company transformed the program, winning three consecutive regular season CAA Championships, two CAA Tournament titles and back-to-back NCAA Tournament berths in 2016 and 2017. Carr specifically coached the Seahawks' backcourt, producing six players who received All-Conference Awards in three years.
"It is with great honor and excitement that I accept the assistant coach position Coach Kelsey has presented to me," Carr said. "I have known, followed and looked up to Coach for more than a decade. He does not fake family, and shows it daily with his approach to his staff and players. Add to that, having the opportunity to come to work daily in a destination city like Charleston at a College with such rich tradition both on and off the floor like CofC under the leadership of President Andrew Hsu and Athletics Director Matt Roberts is an honor. My family and I are grateful to join the Cougar family and Our City."
Prior to the stint at UNCW, Carr broke into the Division I coaching ranks in 2013-14 as an assistant coach at East Tennessee State under Coach Murry Bartow. The Bucs made a nine-game improvement from the previous year during that campaign with him spearheading scouting and guard development.
After serving as a two-year captain and finishing second in the country in 3-pointers made as a player at Pfeiffer from 2006 to 2008, Carr immediately jumped into coaching, getting his start at Chipola College in 2009. Following a season at Chipola, Carr linked up with Keatts in 2010-11 during Keatts' final season as head coach at Hargrave Military Academy. That year, Hargrave finished the season as the No. 1 prep school in the country and saw eight players sign Div. I scholarships. Carr also spent one season leading George Washington High School to a 25-3 mark as the head varsity coach before landing the assistant coach position at East Tennessee State.
Kelsey, Carr and the Cougars begin summer workouts in a couple short weeks, bringing back a vaunted sophomore class alongside veteran leaders Dalton Bolon and Charles Lampten while welcoming in a host of decorated newcomers.
For all the latest on CofC Basketball, stay tuned to CofCSports.com and follow the program on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook @CofCBasketball.
Known as a player's coach with a knack for recruiting and development at a high level, Carr spent the past two years serving as the Athletics Director at national high school powerhouse Word of God Christian Academy in Raleigh, North Carolina, which has produced NBA veterans John Wall and T.J. Warren, among others. In that two-year span, Carr has also helped countless coaching staffs across the country at all levels of the collegiate game as the Scouting Director of Your Fourth Assistant, and made a significant impact as the Director of Team Loaded NC, one of the premier AAU programs in the country.
"Thomas is the total package," Kelsey said. "First of all, he is a terrific human being that believes that shaping the lives of young people is a coach's biggest calling. Secondly, he is an accomplished coach with championship experience in the CAA. Third, he is an elite relationship builder. This not only makes him what I believe one of the nation's top recruiters but also someone beloved by players, coworkers, and members of the community. Thomas is a Division I head coach in the not-too-distant future, and I view his hire as a coup for The College. Our City."
Carr transitioned to the roles at Word of God, Your Fourth Assistant and Team Loaded after spending five combined seasons as an assistant coach under current North Carolina State head coach Kevin Keatts at both NC State and UNCW. During the 2017-18 and 2018-19 campaigns with Carr on staff, the Wolfpack went 45-24, highlighted by a trip to the Big Dance in 2018 after placing third in a loaded ACC.
In his three seasons at UNCW, Carr and company transformed the program, winning three consecutive regular season CAA Championships, two CAA Tournament titles and back-to-back NCAA Tournament berths in 2016 and 2017. Carr specifically coached the Seahawks' backcourt, producing six players who received All-Conference Awards in three years.
"It is with great honor and excitement that I accept the assistant coach position Coach Kelsey has presented to me," Carr said. "I have known, followed and looked up to Coach for more than a decade. He does not fake family, and shows it daily with his approach to his staff and players. Add to that, having the opportunity to come to work daily in a destination city like Charleston at a College with such rich tradition both on and off the floor like CofC under the leadership of President Andrew Hsu and Athletics Director Matt Roberts is an honor. My family and I are grateful to join the Cougar family and Our City."
Prior to the stint at UNCW, Carr broke into the Division I coaching ranks in 2013-14 as an assistant coach at East Tennessee State under Coach Murry Bartow. The Bucs made a nine-game improvement from the previous year during that campaign with him spearheading scouting and guard development.
After serving as a two-year captain and finishing second in the country in 3-pointers made as a player at Pfeiffer from 2006 to 2008, Carr immediately jumped into coaching, getting his start at Chipola College in 2009. Following a season at Chipola, Carr linked up with Keatts in 2010-11 during Keatts' final season as head coach at Hargrave Military Academy. That year, Hargrave finished the season as the No. 1 prep school in the country and saw eight players sign Div. I scholarships. Carr also spent one season leading George Washington High School to a 25-3 mark as the head varsity coach before landing the assistant coach position at East Tennessee State.
Kelsey, Carr and the Cougars begin summer workouts in a couple short weeks, bringing back a vaunted sophomore class alongside veteran leaders Dalton Bolon and Charles Lampten while welcoming in a host of decorated newcomers.
For all the latest on CofC Basketball, stay tuned to CofCSports.com and follow the program on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook @CofCBasketball.
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