The Tribune

By TENAJH SWEETING

Tribune Sports Reporter

tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

BAHAMIAN Nashad Mackey had some big moments on the hardwood as a basketball player but these days he is making his impact on the sidelines. The former assistant coach of The Bahamas’ national basketball team will now transition into his new coaching gig at the University of South Carolina (USC) Upstate for their men’s basketball programme.

The multifaceted coach is certainly no stranger to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) DI coaching ranks, moving on from his previous coaching role with the University of Tennessee-Martin Skyhawks. For Mackey, he is optimistic about making his mark with the Spartans under the tutelage of head coach Marty Richter.

“I am grateful to coach Richter for giving me the opportunity to be apart of his inaugural staff at USC Upstate. I am excited to get on campus, begin working with our student-athletes and laying the foundation of the programme. Spartanburg is a beautiful city and the community is excited and ready to watch their men’s basketball programme turn things around,” he said.

The former national basketball team player recently wrapped up his brief tenure with the Skyhawks.

He played an integral role in helping the team to its first Ohio Valley Conference Regular Season Championship in 15 years. They also totalled 14 conference victories and 21 victories which was a programme record.

Before this stint, he was an assistant coach at Daytona State College for one season With Mackey on the sidelines, the Falcons wrapped up with a 27-4 record in the Central Conference of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA). Additionally, the team emerged as the Central Conference champions and completed the season with a no.8 national ranking. With noteworthy accomplishments over the course of his coaching career, he outlined his goals for the Spartans, who finished last season with a 5-11 record in the Big South Conference.

“It’s a completely new staff and roster. The goal is to get the guys on campus in a few weeks and begin developing good habits, building chemistry, implementing a few concepts, and getting bigger and stronger in the weight room. As an assistant, my job is to be an extension between players and the head coach, mentor them academically and equip them for the next phase of their lives. The goal is simple – show up everyday with a servant attitude,” he said.

Coach Mackey was proud of his tenure with the Skyhawks and wants to bring some of those same attributes down to Spartanburg, South Carolina.

“UT-Martin was an unique experience, working with a staff I’ve known for quite some time and getting the opportunity to coach a few players I’ve coached and mentored in the past. We were fortunate to capture an OVC Championship which was the first one in 15 years. My biggest takeaways would be to continue to add value, find ways to be creative, solve problems, have a positive attitude and always be dependable,” he said.

The graduate of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University got his initial start in coaching back in 2020 as a graduate assistant for the Eagles. He then returned to the Falcons to work alongside head coach Joey Cantens and has continued to climb the coaching ranks ever since.

He is quite fond of the new experiences that happen along the way and is looking forward to a bright future with the USC Upstate men’s basketball programme.

“New experiences are always fun. I am excited to work under a coach in Martin Richter, who has won at every level, and develops his staff and players. It’s a privilege to have these opportunities in coaching and even more thrilling having the experience this early in my career,” he said.

Coach Mackey remains poised and optimistic moving into his newest endeavour.