UTC basketball coach Matt McCall directs players during the Mocs' basketball game against the ETSU Buccaneers at McKenzie Arena on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017, in Chattanooga, Tenn. UTC fell to 10-5 in the SoCon following their 65-51 loss to ETSU.Former University of Tennessee at Chattanooga head basketball coach Matt McCall has agreed in principle to become the new head coach at the University of Massachusetts, according to multiple reports.
McCall was 48-18 in two seasons as the Mocs' head coach, leading the program to a school-record 29 wins, a Southern Conference championship and the school's first NCAA tournament bid since 2009 in his first season. That season also included wins over Georgia, Dayton and Illinois.
His second season started off well, as the Mocs defeated Tennessee in Knoxville, but the team skidded down the stretch, losing eight of its final 12 games, which included a first-round SoCon tournament exit, the team's fifth in six years.
The Mocs will have to replace its five primary starters from last season, and currently return three players who played extensively – junior Makinde London, sophomore point guard Rodney Chatman and sophomore guard Makale Foreman.
For a full story, read Thursday's Times Free Press.
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @genehenleytfp.