USF introduced their new men's basketball coach Brian Gregory at a press conference on Wednesday. President Judy Genshaft and AD Mark Harlan were on hand to celebrate Gregory's hiring.
A lot of fanfare for a coach who takes over a program in a tailspin.
Someone needed to stop the bleeding. The USF Bulls think Gregory is that person.
But the former Georgia Tech and Dayton coach is out to prove he is more than a band-aid.
“I’m excited. I’m excited today," Gregory said. "I’m excited about leading this program. I’m excited about the challenge that lies ahead and the challenges that we’ll face all together.”
“When I set out to find a new leader for our basketball program, I had very specific characteristics at the top of my list," USF AD Mark Harlan said. "An experienced head coach, high integrity, championship background, a program builder and a coach who develops and graduates players. Brian Gregory checks all these boxes and so much more.”
“I know this process is going to be difficult. It is a process, but we’re going to get after it," Gregory said. "I promise you, we’re going to get after it. Our players and future players are going to get a coach who believes in them. Going to get a head coach that is going to demand and is demanding as a coach, but at the same time is going to spend the time to build the relationship, to build a trusting relationship, to build a relationship where there’s open lines of communication so those players know that the trust and the relationship that is built is all about us working together.”
One way Gregory said he wants to build the program is by doing a better job of recruiting the area. He said you have to control your own area in recruiting.
Gregory inherits a program coming off its fifth-straight losing season. A program in the midst of an NCAA investigation into possible academic fraud. And a program with players defecting at an alarming rate. Still, USF officials think they have the right man for this difficult job.