ST. LOUIS- Maryville University Director of Athletics, Tony Duckworth, announced today that Kevin Carroll has been named the new head men's basketball coach.
"I am very humbled and extremely excited to be the new men's basketball coach at Maryville University," said Carroll. "I am grateful to have the opportunity to build a program in one of the top NCAA Division II conferences for basketball in the nation."
The Chattanooga, Tenn. native comes to Maryville from the Air Force Academy, an NCAA Division I institution, where he was assistant coach.
"I am very excited that Kevin Carroll has agreed to become the head men's basketball coach at Maryville University," said Duckworth. "During the past two months, Maryville sought a new head coach who is a fit for Maryville, has experience and knowledge running a college basketball program, values the student-athlete experience, is a proven recruiter and a coach who is ready for the challenges of building a successful program in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. Coach Carroll embodies all the characteristics we sought in this search."
Carroll was an assistant coach for the past three seasons at the Air Force Academy and the Falcons qualified for the Mountain West Conference tournament and advanced as far as the quarterfinals each year.
During his tenure, he also coached two Mountain West All-Conference selections, three Academic All-Conference honorees and one MWC Defensive Player of the Year.
Prior to his time at Air Force, Carroll served as the top assistant coach at the University of Alabama-Huntsville, an NCAA Division II institution, from 2006-07. While there, he helped the Chargers to an 18-11 record and an appearance at the Gulf South Conference tournament.
Carroll served as the head coach of St. Pius X High School in Atlanta, Ga. for three seasons prior to UAH. While there, he was turned around the program and established Pius as one of the premier high school programs in the state.
After the Blue Lions won only six games in 2004-05, Carroll's second team improved its win total to 19 games and advanced to the second round of the state tournament. The 2005-06 squad set a number of school records including tying the record for wins (24) and advanced to the Elite 8 and the second region championship in the program's 49-year history.
In Carroll's final two seasons at St. Pius X, the Blue Lions defeated ten ranked teams, including AAAA's top-ranked team in the 2006 regional finals.
Carroll earned his bachelor's degree in math education from Berry College in Rome, Ga. in 2000. He was a four-year member of the men's basketball team and helped guide the Vikings to three consecutive 20-win seasons. Carroll received the TranSouth Conference Scholar-Athlete Award for his efforts on the court and in the classroom his senior year. He earned his master's degree in health sciences from the University of Alabama in 2002.