FAIRMONT, W.Va. — Fairmont State presumed it might lose basketball coach Jerrod Calhoun to a Division I program, so athletics director Tim McNeely had Joe Mazzulla on standby.
The Falcons named Mazzulla their new head coach Tuesday, moving quickly after Youngstown State announced the hiring of Calhoun.
The sixth man on West Virginia’s Final Four team in 2010, Mazzulla served on Calhoun’s staff at Fairmont State for three years. He spent this season as an assistant on the Celtics’ NBA developmental league team, the Maine Red Claws.
“It is a privilege to welcome Joe back to Fairmont, and we couldn’t be happier to have him as our next head men’s basketball coach,” McNeely said. “Joe is well known around the state of West Virginia from leading the Mountaineers to the Final Four, and he has had success at every stop of his young coaching career.”
Calhoun authored a dramatic five-year turnaround at Fairmont State, culminating with a 34-3 record and a berth in last weekend’s Division II national championship game.
“Coming off a national runner-up season, we wanted to keep the continuity and team chemistry as strong as possible, and we believe Joe is the correct person to keep FSU basketball rolling in the right direction,” McNeely said.
Mazulla previously worked as a Glenville State assistant for two years before his first stint at Fairmont, where Calhoun praised his developmental work with guards Shammgod Wells and Jason Jolly — key contributors on this season’s Mountain East champion squad
“It is very humbling to get this opportunity and I’m excited to come home and lead a program that is loved and supported by a group of passionate community members. Fairmont is a special place,” Mazzulla said.