Groce Announces Inaugural Coaching Staff
4/17/2026 11:17:00 AM | Men's Basketball
CHARLESTON, S.C. – College of Charleston head men's basketball coach John Groce has announced the additions of Aaron Fearne, Rob Fulford, Jonathan Holmes, Mike Allen, Robby Pridgen and Evan Wilson to his inaugural staff for the 2026-27 season. Fearne, Fulford, Holmes, Allen, and Pridgen will serve as assistant coaches while Wilson will serve as the program's video coordinator.
Fearne comes to Charleston after three seasons serving as the head coach for the Charlotte 49ers. The Cairns, Queensland, Australia native was elevated to full-time after a standout 2023-24 season leading the 49ers from an interim role. He was named a finalist for the 2024 Joe B. Hall Coach of the Year award, which is given to the top rookie, first-year head coach in Division I, after leading Charlotte to a 19-12 overall record, highlighted by a 13-5 mark in conference play for the program's first top three league finish since 2006.
He first joined the 49ers coaching staff in 2018-19 as an assistant coach. He came to Charlotte after nine years as head coach of the National Basketball League's Cairns Taipans, which plays in Australia's top professional league. Fearne also enjoyed a successful professional playing career in Australia from 1998-2005.
FEARNE FULL BIO
Fulford most recently served as the associate head coach for two seasons at Marshall. Prior to his time at Marshall, he spent seven seasons on the sideline with Coach Groce at Akron, contributing to multiple NCAA Tournament appearances and conference titles.
His coaching career includes stops at Missouri, Huntington Prep, and Mountain State Academy, where he coached numerous future NBA players and earned national recognition for his success at the prep level.
FULFORD FULL BIO
Holmes comes to Charleston after four seasons as the Associate Head Coach at Miami (OH), where he helped lead the RedHawks to an undefeated regular season in 2025-26. Holmes played a key role in boosting Miami's offense, helping raise their scoring average from 70.6 points per game in 2023-24 to 80.6 points per game in 2024-25, the second-highest scoring average in the MAC. Miami also led the conference in both overall field goal percentage (48.1%) and three-point shooting percentage (39.7%). Additionally, the Red and White set program records for total points in a season (2,740), field goals made (985), three-pointers made (363) and total assists (550).
Holmes is familiar with the CAA, having served as an assistant coach at both Elon and William & Mary prior to his time at Miami (OH). While at Elon, Holmes was named a top three assistant coach in the CAA by Stadium in 2020 and a top 50 mid-major assistant coach nationally by Silver Waves Media that same year.
HOLMES FULL BIO
Allen reunites for the second straight season with his former head coach at Charleston, having spent the 2025-26 campaign on the Akron sideline. Prior to Akron, he spent six seasons at Eastern Kentucky where he helped compile the highest-rated EKU class in the internet recruiting era. Allen also spent time at Bryant, Hargrave Military Academy, and Mercyhurst.
He played two seasons for Groce at Ohio, earning All-Mid-American Conference Honorable Mention accolades as a senior in 2008-09. As a senior, he became just the third Ohio player to lead the MAC in assists per game (4.31).
ALLEN FULL BIO
Pridgen also follows Groce from Akron, spending the last nine seasons as an assistant coach for the Zips and serving on the sideline for three straight Mid-American Conference Championships and NCAA Tournament appearances. Prior to Akron, Pridgen spent eight seasons at Robert Morris making two appearances in the NCAA Tournament along with two NIT appearances.
He made previous stops at Roanoke, IUP, and Mount Union. A standout during his playing career at Roanoke, Pridgen ranks sixth all-time on the career scoring list at Roanoke after compiling 1,586 points. In addition, he has career records for 3-pointers (228), 3-point field goal attempts (568) and free-throw percentage (.864). He was named to the Roanoke Athletic Hall of Fame in 2019.
PRIDGEN FULL BIO
Wilson also reunites with his former head coach in Charleston, having played four seasons for Groce at Akron. He spent the 2025-26 season as a graduate assistant at Arkansas State.
WILSON FULL BIO
Join the excitement and get ready for the 2026-27 season by requesting your season tickets today. Click here for more information.
For complete coverage of Charleston men's basketball, follow us on X (@CofCBasketball) and Instagram (@CofCBasketball).
Fearne comes to Charleston after three seasons serving as the head coach for the Charlotte 49ers. The Cairns, Queensland, Australia native was elevated to full-time after a standout 2023-24 season leading the 49ers from an interim role. He was named a finalist for the 2024 Joe B. Hall Coach of the Year award, which is given to the top rookie, first-year head coach in Division I, after leading Charlotte to a 19-12 overall record, highlighted by a 13-5 mark in conference play for the program's first top three league finish since 2006.
He first joined the 49ers coaching staff in 2018-19 as an assistant coach. He came to Charlotte after nine years as head coach of the National Basketball League's Cairns Taipans, which plays in Australia's top professional league. Fearne also enjoyed a successful professional playing career in Australia from 1998-2005.
FEARNE FULL BIO
Fulford most recently served as the associate head coach for two seasons at Marshall. Prior to his time at Marshall, he spent seven seasons on the sideline with Coach Groce at Akron, contributing to multiple NCAA Tournament appearances and conference titles.
His coaching career includes stops at Missouri, Huntington Prep, and Mountain State Academy, where he coached numerous future NBA players and earned national recognition for his success at the prep level.
FULFORD FULL BIO
Holmes comes to Charleston after four seasons as the Associate Head Coach at Miami (OH), where he helped lead the RedHawks to an undefeated regular season in 2025-26. Holmes played a key role in boosting Miami's offense, helping raise their scoring average from 70.6 points per game in 2023-24 to 80.6 points per game in 2024-25, the second-highest scoring average in the MAC. Miami also led the conference in both overall field goal percentage (48.1%) and three-point shooting percentage (39.7%). Additionally, the Red and White set program records for total points in a season (2,740), field goals made (985), three-pointers made (363) and total assists (550).
Holmes is familiar with the CAA, having served as an assistant coach at both Elon and William & Mary prior to his time at Miami (OH). While at Elon, Holmes was named a top three assistant coach in the CAA by Stadium in 2020 and a top 50 mid-major assistant coach nationally by Silver Waves Media that same year.
HOLMES FULL BIO
Allen reunites for the second straight season with his former head coach at Charleston, having spent the 2025-26 campaign on the Akron sideline. Prior to Akron, he spent six seasons at Eastern Kentucky where he helped compile the highest-rated EKU class in the internet recruiting era. Allen also spent time at Bryant, Hargrave Military Academy, and Mercyhurst.
He played two seasons for Groce at Ohio, earning All-Mid-American Conference Honorable Mention accolades as a senior in 2008-09. As a senior, he became just the third Ohio player to lead the MAC in assists per game (4.31).
ALLEN FULL BIO
Pridgen also follows Groce from Akron, spending the last nine seasons as an assistant coach for the Zips and serving on the sideline for three straight Mid-American Conference Championships and NCAA Tournament appearances. Prior to Akron, Pridgen spent eight seasons at Robert Morris making two appearances in the NCAA Tournament along with two NIT appearances.
He made previous stops at Roanoke, IUP, and Mount Union. A standout during his playing career at Roanoke, Pridgen ranks sixth all-time on the career scoring list at Roanoke after compiling 1,586 points. In addition, he has career records for 3-pointers (228), 3-point field goal attempts (568) and free-throw percentage (.864). He was named to the Roanoke Athletic Hall of Fame in 2019.
PRIDGEN FULL BIO
Wilson also reunites with his former head coach in Charleston, having played four seasons for Groce at Akron. He spent the 2025-26 season as a graduate assistant at Arkansas State.
WILSON FULL BIO
Join the excitement and get ready for the 2026-27 season by requesting your season tickets today. Click here for more information.
For complete coverage of Charleston men's basketball, follow us on X (@CofCBasketball) and Instagram (@CofCBasketball).
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