A pair of familiar faces will guide Best Virginia in the 2022 version of The Basketball Tournament.
The team announced Tuesday that James Long will return as head coach for a second straight year, while David Tallman will maintain his role as an assistant coach.
🚨 NEWS! 🚨
WVU Tech head coach @CoachJamesLong returns as head coach for 2022 in @thetournament!
“I’m excited to be back for year two with Best Virginia. Last year was one of the best coaching experiences of my life. Representing WVU in Charleston was special to all of us.” pic.twitter.com/bHD0xwTLSy
— FINAL FOURCAST • BEST VIRGINIA TBT (@finalfourcast) May 11, 2022
Long made his TBT debut in 2021, the second time Best Virginia participated in the single-elimination, 64-team event that offers $1 million to the winning team. He recently wrapped up his third season as men’s basketball coach at WVU Tech. The Golden Bears finished 26-6 and qualified for the NAIA National Tournament.
Over Long’s three seasons at WVU Tech, the Golden Bears are 62-21.
Long, a Charleston native, played at West Virginia from 2014-2017 before starting his coaching career.
Tallman has been a Best Virginia assistant for each of the team’s previous two TBT appearances. The boys basketball coach at Morgantown High School, Tallman recently helped the Mohigans capture the Class AAAA state championship in what was their second straight appearance in a title game.
In his MHS tenure, Tallman has led the Mohigans to two state championships, the first of which came in 2016 in what marked the state’s first unbeaten Class AAA team since 1985.
In the 2021 TBT, Best Virginia won twice before bowing out against Team 23, which went on to finish runner-up.
The Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center is one of eight regional sites for a second straight year and will host Round of 64, Round of 32 and Sweet 16 games from July 24-27.
