Wisconsin men's basketball associate head coach Lamont Paris has been named head coach of the Chattanooga men's basketball program, as announced by the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga on Sunday.
A 20-year coaching veteran, Paris spent seven seasons coaching at Wisconsin and helped lead the Badgers to the NCAA tournament in each of those seven seasons. With Paris on the bench, UW averaged 27 wins per season and had an overall record of 189-66 (.741). The Badgers advanced to the Sweet 16 in six of Paris' seven seasons, including back-to-back Final Four appearances in 2014 and 2015.
"I'm excited for this new chapter of my career, but I am so thankful and grateful for the opportunity I had at the University of Wisconsin," Paris said. "The city of Madison, the people, the players and staff of the Badgers' program and the University are all very special to me and will be a place that I will always think of as home.
"I would like to specifically thank Barry Alvarez, Bo Ryan and Greg Gard for the opportunities and guidance they gave me. I am also indebted to all of the players and coaches I have had the privilege to work with throughout my career."
"We are all very proud and excited for Lamont as he begins this new opportunity," UW head coach Greg Gard said. "I have no doubt he'll make a terrific head coach and this is a tremendous hire for Chattanooga. On a personal level, it's bittersweet to see one of your best friends move away but I'm so happy for and proud of him. He's more than paid his dues and climbed the professional ladder the right way.
"I will always be grateful to Lamont for everything he did in seven years for this program, particularly over the past two seasons helping me in my transition to head coach. I'm looking forward to following his career closely and we'll be sure to stay in close contact. The Mocs are undoubtedly in good hands."
Photo: Wisconsin Badgers
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