Western Carolina University enters a new era with the hiring of former Winthrop University associate head coach Mark Prosser.
Prosser was announced as the head basketball coach for WCU on March 27, nearly three weeks after former head coach Larry Hunter stepped down. The Western Carolina Athletic Department immediately began the search to fill the head coaching vacancy.
Head Basketball Coach Mark Prosser (left) with Athletic Director Randy Eaton (right.)
Photo provided by Graham Pollard.
“We went through our candidates pretty quick, but I knew what switches I wanted flipped for my guy,” said Randy Eaton, Athletic Director for Western Carolina University. “Not one candidate flipped every single switch except Mark Prosser.”
Eaton said he wanted a guy who would love the community at Western Carolina, as well as someone the community would love.
Prosser has already had a warm welcome from the rest of the WCU athletics, including head football coach Mark Speir.
“At the welcoming dinner party, Prosser and Speir snuck away from the rest of the crowd to talk and bond,” said Eaton. “That was the moment I knew this was our guy. That’s when I knew I made the right choice.”
Prosser began his coaching career as a student assistant at Marist College in 1999 and coached there until he was hired as an assistant coach for Wofford College in 2002. He also spent time as an assistant coach for Bucknell University. From 2011 until 2012, Prosser was the head coach for Brevard College before returning to assistant coaching at Winthrop.
Prosser spent six seasons with the Winthrop Eagles which included an NCAA tournament appearance.
Students at Western Carolina are excited about the new basketball coaching regime.
“I think Mark Prosser is someone that fits beautifully here at WCU,” said junior, Bradley Owen. “He’s the young blood that WCU needs to bring in fresh ideas that’ll help build our program to a supreme level.”
“I looked at his Twitter page a while ago and it seems like a lot of people like him,” said senior, Chase Hardin.
“I’m excited about coach Prosser because he brings a new play style and new ideas to what’s been a pretty unappealing team to our students,” said senior, Cameron Maxwell. “He brings an electric play style that could help us really make some noise in the Southern Conference.”
