UTC forward Justin Tuoyo scrambles against UNC Greensboro center RJ White for possession of the basektball during a SoCon game at McKenzie Arena last month. Tuoyo said Mocs coach Matt McCall got the team’s attention during a meeting before he was introduced as UTC’s new leader for men’s basketball last year.The season that has been for the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga men’s basketball team could have easily not been that way.
When Will Wade stepped down as the Mocs’ head coach to take over the Virginia Commonwealth University program in April 2015, there was a groundswell of support for UTC assistant Wes Long to move into the top job. It seemed the logical choice at the time – Long had experience as a head coach and the support of UTC players, most of whom were coming back for this season.
Then Florida assistant Matt McCall was introduced as the Mocs’ new coach on April 13.
Some team members were stunned. Others were upset.
At that point, every player on the roster was about to transition to his third or fourth college head coach. There was talk of a few players leaving, while others expressed their disappointment on social media.