May 4, 2004
ATLANTA – Mack McCarthy, formerly a very successful head coach of the men’s basketball programs at Chattanooga and Virginia Commonwealth, has been named an assistant coach for the Georgia Tech women’s basketball team, head coach MaChelle Joseph announced.
Most recently, he spent four seasons (1999-02) as the head coach at Virginia Commonwealth, helping the Rams improve their record each year, capped by a 21-11 mark in 2001-02. He posted a four-year record of 66-55 at VCU, where he served as associate head coach for one season (1997-98) under Sonny Smith before he was elevated to head coach.
McCarthy made a name for himself when he guided the Chattanooga program to unprecedented heights during his tenure as head coach from 1986-97, leading the Mocs to five NCAA Tournament berths in 12 seasons. In addition to five NCAA appearances, McCarthy also led the Mocs to the National Invitation Tournament in 1986 and 1987 for a total of seven postseason bids in 12 years as he compiled a record of 243-122 (.666).
In his final season, the Mocs won 24 games in 1996-97 and posted NCAA Tournament victories over Georgia and Illinois to reach the NCAA Sweet 16 for the only time in school history.
Named Southern Conference Coach of the Year in 1986, 1992 and 1993, McCarthy was the he winningest coach in Southern Conference history (243 victories) when he left the league. His tenure included seven 20-win seasons, eight Southern Conference regular-season championships and five Southern Conference Tournament titles.
In 16 years as a head coach, McCarthy compiled a record of 309-177 (.636), including 14 winning seasons and eight 20-win seasons.
Before taking over the Chattanooga program, McCarthy served as an assistant coach to Sonny Smith at Auburn from 1978-85, during which time he worked with future NBA stars Charles Barkley, Chris Morris and Chuck Person. He previously worked as an assistant at East Tennessee State and Virginia Tech, his alma mater.
McCarthy has spent the last two years working in radio and television, serving as a television analyst for ESPN while hosting a daily radio show in Chattanooga, “On the Road with Mack McCarthy.”
Born William Leroy McCarthy III on July 3, 1952, he graduated from Virginia Tech, earning a bachelor’s degree in 1974 and a master’s degree in 1976. He is married to the former Jean Coffelt, and the couple has one daughter, Lindsay Katherine.
