A&T NAMES HUNTER HEAD BASKETBALL COACH
GREENSBORO- Dr, James C. Renick, chancellor of North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University,
announced today at a press conference that the Board of Trustees approved his recommendation to name Curtis
Hunter, head men's basketball coach of A&T.
Hunter, who was named interim head coach of the team last year after the resignation of Roy Thomas, has signed a
four-year contract with the university, effective June 1.
"We are delighted that Coach Hunter will be our permanent head basketball coach," Chancellor Renick said. "He has
proven himself - taking a team that was predicted to place ninth in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference to sixth place.
He is a superb role model for our students and his presence has had a positive impact on our athletics program and
university."
"It's exciting to have a new basketball coach without the term interim in front of the name," said Athletics Director, Dr.
Alfonso Scandrett, Jr. "Curtis will bring to the Aggie basketball program the experience and expertise to take and maintain
the program at the highest of intercollegiate levels."
Hunter, who came to the University in 1997 as the assistant basketball coach, enters his second season as bead
coach of the Aggies Men's Basketball Team. The Durham native ended the season with a 14-15 record, 11 -8 in the
Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.
"I don't really have words," said Hunter, "I have been waiting for this day for a while. Now I can concentrate on heading
the program in the direction that I want it to go. It is much easier to recruit guys when they know you are stable."
Hunter, who played four years of varsity basketball at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill from 1982-1987,
was McDonald's High School All-American in 1982. Parade Magazine also identified him as an All-American that
year. As a high school star, he also won the Hertz Number One Award for two consecutive years and made the Junior
Olympic All-Star Team in 1982. After receiving his bachelor of arts degree in African Studies and Political Science
from UNC, Hunter played professional basketball from 1987 to 1992 in Australia and Manchester, England.
In his rookie season with Manchester United of Britain, Hunter averaged 28 points per game, at that time the most
ever by a rookie, In 1988-89, Hunter played for the Swan Hill Flyers of Australia where he averaged 43 points per
game and led his team to the championship. He continued to play in Australia and his last season averaged 45 points
per game for the Horsham Hornets.
Hunter then served two years as the head varsity men's coach and men's track coach at Chapel Hill High School.
Prior to coining to A&T, Hunter was an assistant coach at Fayetteville State University and also coached women's
cross country from 1995 -199T
Hunter is married to the former Danielle Marie Kirkley and they have a daughter, Sydney.