Staff Directory
Aaron Fearne
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
Aaron Fearne joins John Groce's inaugural coaching staff for the 2026-2027 Charleston men's basketball season.
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.
Fearne led the 49ers to tying a pair of program records in his inaugural season, thanks to 13 conference victories and an equal number of wins at Halton Arena, the most since the 2019-20 season. Charlotte also recorded its first-ever eight-game conference winning streak in program history, the first win over a ranked opponent at home since 2010, and the first overall since 2013 when it upended No. 17 Florida Atlantic on Jan. 6, 2024.
Before being named interim head coach on June 15, 2023, Fearne served as an assistant with the 49ers for five years, including a year as the associate head coach during the 2022-23 season. He played a pivotal role in attracting three of Conference USA’s top-ranked recruiting classes and helping Charlotte in 2023 to its most wins since 2000-01 (22). The campaign included the 49ers’ first appearance in the C-USA quarterfinals since 2015-16 and later the program’s first postseason tournament title with a College Basketball Invitational-winning run.
His recruiting prowess extended into Charlotte’s development with the tutelage of Igor Milicic Jr. and 2023 All-C-USA honoree Aly Khalifa. Khalifa, who was the 2021 C-USA Freshman of the Year, finished the 2022-23 season ranked first in rebounding and second in scoring and assists. Milicic Jr. was named a second-team All-AAC selection in 2024.
Fearne joined the 49ers in 2018-19 as an inaugural member of the Ron Sanchez coaching staff. 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.
He coached 264 games at the helm of the Taipans and guided them to three appearances in the NBL playoffs. In 2011, he led the team to an appearance in the NBL Finals. In 2015, he coached the Taipans to a record 21 wins and another appearance in the league finals while garnering NBL Coach of the Year honors. In 2017, he guided the Taipans to a second-place finish in the regular season and a trip to the NBL semifinals. He was named head coach of New Zealand’s U-19 National Team a year later.
Before becoming head coach, Fearne spent eight seasons (2001-08) as an assistant coach for the Taipans. During that time, he also served as the head coach of the Cairns Taipans Academy, a junior development academy he created. The academy helped develop Phoenix Suns center Aron Baynes and former NBA player Nathan Jawai.
For four seasons, he was head coach of the Queensland Basketball League’s Cairns Marlins (2006-09). He earned Queensland Basketball League Coach of the Year honors in 2006 and 2007. In 2007 and 2009, he helped the Marlins capture the league title. Fearne also guided the Marlins to the Australian Basketball Association National Championship in 2007
Fearne also enjoyed a successful playing career in Australia. From 1998-2005, he played for the Cairns Marlins. As a player, he helped the Marlins capture two national championships. From 1999-2001, he played for the Taipans.
He played college basketball in the United States: 1993-94 season at Western Wisconsin Technical College, and the 1994-95 season at Mid-State Technical College where he earned an associate’s degree. He played his final two seasons at Mayville State University in Mayville, North Dakota.
In 1997, he graduated from Mayville State with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration.
Fearne and his wife Amy have a son, Tyler, and a daughter, Jasmine.
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.
Fearne led the 49ers to tying a pair of program records in his inaugural season, thanks to 13 conference victories and an equal number of wins at Halton Arena, the most since the 2019-20 season. Charlotte also recorded its first-ever eight-game conference winning streak in program history, the first win over a ranked opponent at home since 2010, and the first overall since 2013 when it upended No. 17 Florida Atlantic on Jan. 6, 2024.
Before being named interim head coach on June 15, 2023, Fearne served as an assistant with the 49ers for five years, including a year as the associate head coach during the 2022-23 season. He played a pivotal role in attracting three of Conference USA’s top-ranked recruiting classes and helping Charlotte in 2023 to its most wins since 2000-01 (22). The campaign included the 49ers’ first appearance in the C-USA quarterfinals since 2015-16 and later the program’s first postseason tournament title with a College Basketball Invitational-winning run.
His recruiting prowess extended into Charlotte’s development with the tutelage of Igor Milicic Jr. and 2023 All-C-USA honoree Aly Khalifa. Khalifa, who was the 2021 C-USA Freshman of the Year, finished the 2022-23 season ranked first in rebounding and second in scoring and assists. Milicic Jr. was named a second-team All-AAC selection in 2024.
Fearne joined the 49ers in 2018-19 as an inaugural member of the Ron Sanchez coaching staff. 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.
He coached 264 games at the helm of the Taipans and guided them to three appearances in the NBL playoffs. In 2011, he led the team to an appearance in the NBL Finals. In 2015, he coached the Taipans to a record 21 wins and another appearance in the league finals while garnering NBL Coach of the Year honors. In 2017, he guided the Taipans to a second-place finish in the regular season and a trip to the NBL semifinals. He was named head coach of New Zealand’s U-19 National Team a year later.
Before becoming head coach, Fearne spent eight seasons (2001-08) as an assistant coach for the Taipans. During that time, he also served as the head coach of the Cairns Taipans Academy, a junior development academy he created. The academy helped develop Phoenix Suns center Aron Baynes and former NBA player Nathan Jawai.
For four seasons, he was head coach of the Queensland Basketball League’s Cairns Marlins (2006-09). He earned Queensland Basketball League Coach of the Year honors in 2006 and 2007. In 2007 and 2009, he helped the Marlins capture the league title. Fearne also guided the Marlins to the Australian Basketball Association National Championship in 2007
Fearne also enjoyed a successful playing career in Australia. From 1998-2005, he played for the Cairns Marlins. As a player, he helped the Marlins capture two national championships. From 1999-2001, he played for the Taipans.
He played college basketball in the United States: 1993-94 season at Western Wisconsin Technical College, and the 1994-95 season at Mid-State Technical College where he earned an associate’s degree. He played his final two seasons at Mayville State University in Mayville, North Dakota.
In 1997, he graduated from Mayville State with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration.
Fearne and his wife Amy have a son, Tyler, and a daughter, Jasmine.
On the Prowl with Charleston Athletics: Angelo Anastopoulo, Head Women's Tennis Coach
Wednesday, April 15
Cougars Uncaged Episode 8: Alex Lyon
Monday, April 13
On the Prowl with Charleston Athletics: Chad Holbrook, Baseball
Wednesday, April 08
John Groce Introductory Press Conference 4/1/26
Friday, April 03
