The Challenges Desmond Oliver Faces as ETSU Head Men’s Basketball Coach
He’s never lived in the Tri-Cities, and now must sell an area to his team that might support their play but not their minds.
Here’s what the average east Tennessee sports fan sees when contemplating incoming East Tennessee State University head men’s basketball coach Desmond Oliver.
* He’s been a part of Rick Barnes’ staff at Tennessee, restoring the glories the Vols had on the hardwood under Bruce Pearl.
* He’s said to have had a major role in recruiting the key players that landed Tennessee the top ranking in the Associated Press Men’s Basketball Poll for a month in 2019; Jordan Bone, Admiral Schofield, and Grant Williams.
* He will be the first African-American head men’s basketball coach in ETSU history, coming to the program at a time of cultural if not racial and political division stemming from the team’s decision to kneel when on the court for the playing of the Star Spangled Banner prior to games.
* He’s the best coach ETSU could have hoped for due to the circumstances surrounding the program following former head coach Jason Shay’s resignation.
