LSU enjoys spring scrimmage
April 25, 2018
Nicholls earns huge Southland sweep
April 25, 2018
Nicholls State University’s new men’s basketball coach wants to do what the old one did – win recruiting battles, excite the community and keep the momentum alive within the program.
The Colonels officially announced Austin Claunch this week after hiring him before Easter, then delaying his press conference because of the holiday.
The coach spoke at a Signing Day event on campus and promised fans and supporters that though the team will continue to trend forward under his watch.
Claunch, 28, will be the younger head coach in Division I next season. He was an assistant at Thibodaux for the past several seasons under former coach Richie Riley, who left the Colonels to take the head coaching job at South Alabama – a gig he earned after leading Nicholls to a 20-win season in 2017-18.
“It’s an awesome time to be at Nicholls,” Claunch said. “It really is. I’m humbled. I’m honored. I’m excited to be standing here as the next men’s basketball coach.”
For Claunch, he’s taken the fast lane to the big seat at Nicholls.
He was still a player just more than five years ago, working as one of the best players in the history of Emory University’s history.
After graduating high school in 2008, Claunch played for four seasons, ranking first in Emory school history in career assists (580), assists per game (5.8) and minutes per game, while also earning All-Conference honors three-straight years.
But Claunch said he knew that his future was in coaching, so even as a player, he worked hard to prepare himself for that next step. He worked basketball camps with John Lucas, while still in college and he also helped coach AAU teams with his dad.
At his press conference, Claunch thanked his family at-length for supporting him throughout his life and being his rock.
He also thanked Nicholls’ Athletic Director Matt Roan for “trusting him” with the program’s future.
A lot of that trust was earned, because after graduating from Emory, Roan dove right into the profession, starting with George Mason as a graduate assistant for two seasons before going to Clemson in 2013 as a graduate manager.
It was at Clemson that Claunch met Riley and the two clicked.
Claunch worked with the Tigers for a couple seasons. One of his biggest roles was in player development and he had a hand in polishing the skills of forward K.J. McDaniels and All-ACC First-Team Player Jared Blossomgame, as well as several other guys who had a hand in Clemson making it to the Sweet 16 this past season.
But then, there was Thibodaux.
Riley got hired at Nicholls two seasons ago and when assembling his staff, he plucked Claunch away from Clemson and got him to be a Colonel.
On the day that Claunch was hired, Riley said it was a great day for Nicholls basketball, and after departing, he gave his understudy support on social media, saying that he will do a quality job running the program in the future.
Claunch thanked Riley at his press conference, adding that without the coach’s support, he wouldn’t be in the position he’s in today.
“He’s the best. He’s just the best,” Claunch said. “He took a chance on me. I owe everything to Richie. We were at Clemson together and I remember him talking about Nicholls. Being from Houston, I knew what Nicholls was. I knew they were in the Southland. I knew all about it. … He sold me on his vision.”
Claunch said the best part about his job in the future is that he can now sell that vision to players in the future.
He said he plans to keep Nicholls playing an up-tempo, fast-paced game like they’ve been doing for the past few seasons.
“We will want to push the ball,” Claunch said.
The coach said the Colonels will also look to recruit the same way, as well. He said the Colonels will start locally and will try and secure commitments from the top players in the area first, before looking anywhere else. When there are shortcomings in the depth chart, then it will be time to scan the country for instant-impact players – graduate transfers and other major-conference guys who are looking for new homes.
But it will not be easy.
The Colonels won 20 games last season and have momentum that they’ve not had in several seasons, yes.
But Nicholls also returns just three scholarship players from last season, while graduating eight seniors.
Claunch said he understands the challenges which are ahead, but added that he’s not afraid to tackle them with a firm foot forward. He said immediately after getting hired, he started recruiting, adding that he has commitments from several players for 2018-19, while also still holding a handful of scholarships to give.
The coach said he’s also working hard with the returnees so that they’re ready to put their best foot forward in the upcoming season.
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