Myrtle Beach
‘A Clear Vision’: Coastal Carolina Names New Head Basketball Coach
CONWAY — A former Wake Forest standout is Coastal Carolina’s new head basketball coach. Justin Gray, who recently served as the head coach at Western Carolina, will be formally introduced at a press conference inside the HTC Center on March 14, according to a news release from the university.
“We are excited to welcome Justin Gray as our head men’s basketball coach,” said Matt Hogue, Coastal’s vice president for intercollegiate athletics and university recreation, in the release. “He is a talented basketball mind who has won at every level of the sport. He has strong connections to the region and is considered one of the finest young coaches in the sport. Justin has a clear vision for Chanticleer basketball and we are thrilled to welcome him and his family to Conway!”
Gray replaces Benny Moss, who served as interim head coach after the retirement of Cliff Ellis. Ellis announced his retirement Dec. 6 after more than 49 seasons as a college head coach, with 46 of those (and eight games this season) at the D-I level, including a 1984-94 stint at Clemson. Ellis ran Coastal’s program for 17 seasons.
During his three years at Western Carolina, Gray led the Catamounts to 51 victories and back-to-back winning seasons for the first time in 13 years. He also guided the team to the College Basketball Invitational and the Southern Conference Tournament semifinals in 2023.
“Coach Justin Gray’s record speaks for itself: he graduates players, he wins games and does things the right way, and he’s been involved in every community where he’s coached,” Coastal President Michael Benson said. “We are very excited to welcome him and his family to Coastal Carolina University and look forward to the next chapter of CCU basketball.”
Before he rebuilt the Western Carolina program, Gray served two seasons at Winthrop under then-coach Pat Kelsey. During that time, the Eagles won a pair of Big South Tournament championships and posted an overall record of 47-12. Winthrop was a No. 12 seed in the 2021 NCAA Tournament.
Gray came to Winthrop from Wake Forest, where he worked as the director of basketball development. The ACC school is also where Gray played from 2002-2006, earning three All-ACC selections and scoring 1,946 career points. During this time there, he was a teammate of future NBA star Chris Paul. After college, Gray spent 12 years playing professionally overseas.
The Charlotte, N.C., native and his wife Kate have two sons, Justin Jr. and Kristian, and a daughter, Jhai.
Author: STAFF HERE MYRTLE BEACH
The HERE Myrtle Beach Staff Writers are a collaborative team of journalists, editors, and local contributors passionate about delivering accurate, timely information to the Myrtle Beach community. As part of the HEREcity.com Network, which powers over 100 U.S. city sites including HEREcolumbia.com, our staff draws on collective experience in South Carolina journalism to cover everything from business sales and real estate developments to dining deals and community initiatives. Our Expertise and Background Local Roots in Myrtle Beach Our team includes lifelong Myrtle Beach residents and SC natives with deep knowledge of the area’s history, economy, and culture. We’ve covered key events like the recent developments along the Grand Strand, Myrtle Beach’s tourism and hospitality industry, and growth in local education sectors (e.g., Coastal Carolina University programs). Collective Experience With over 50 combined years in journalism, our staff has backgrounds in print, digital media, and community reporting. We prioritize fact-based stories, drawing from sources like the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, city government records, and on-the-ground interviews. Commitment to Quality Every article is a group effort, involving research, editing, and verification to ensure reliability. We adhere to journalistic standards, citing credible sources and updating content as new details emerge.
