Damon Stoudamire Announces Tech Coaching Staff

THE FLATS – New Georgia Tech head men’s basketball coach Damon Stoudamire has completed his first coaching staff for the Yellow Jackets with the hiring of Karl Hobbs as associate head coach, as well as Terry Parker, Jr., and Pershin Williams assistant coaches.

Collectively, the trio has 61 years of college coaching experience, have been involved in 25 post-season tournaments, and come to The Flats from programs that have enjoyed recent success on the national level.

Hobbs, a former Division I head coach at George Washington, comes to Tech following seven seasons as the associate head coach at Rutgers, a program on the rise in the Big Ten with two NCAA Tournament appearances in the last three seasons. Williams joins the Jackets after a successful building of the men’s basketball program as Kennesaw State, which won the Atlantic sun championship and played in the NCAA Tournament for the first time as a Division I program. Parker transitions to Tech following a successful three-year term at UAB, which won 78 games and made two post-season appearances during his time with the Blazers’ program.

“This staff is a good mixture of younger and experienced coaches, a good blend,” said Stoudamire. “The college basketball landscape is changing, and I wanted to align myself with coaches who can relate on both levels. Pershin and Terry have grinded their way to where they are today. Coach Hobbs has had high major experience, and has been a head coach before.

“Their strengths are in relationships. They have great ability to connect with people in all shapes and sizes. They have a shared vision for what I and the Georgia Tech program want to put out there. They are strong in the development of players, both on the court and as young men. They’re high-character guys who exude the morals and principles of what I look for, and what Georgia Tech stands for.

“They’ve all been with programs that have had recent success, which has value and was taken into consideration. The success is still fresh for them, especially for Terry and Pershin where they came from. Coach Hobbs is a no-brainer to have here, but I’m very excited for Pershin and Terry to have this opportunity at such a great institution. These are guys who are hungry to be successful. They’ll roll up their sleeves and work to get this program back, brick by brick.”

KARL HOBBS | Associate Head Coach

Hobbs directed George Washington to three straight NCAA Tournament appearances as a head coach, captured two national titles as an assistant at Connecticut and helped Rutgers to three post-season appearances in his most recent stop.

Hobbs has 36 seasons of Division I coaching experience and 21 post-season appearances on his resume, and comes to The Flats following seven seasons as associate head coach at Rutgers. He helped guide the Scarlet Knights to post-season appearances each of the past three seasons, including back-to-back appearances in the NCAA Tournament in 2021 and 2022, marking the first time RU made the big dance in consecutive seasons since 1976. Hobbs helped Rutgers snap a 30-year NCAA Tournament drought when the Scarlet Knights earned a berth in the 2021 the NCAA Tournament, their first appearance since 1991.

“Coach Hobbs is a very important addition to our program,” said Stoudamire. “He’s a really good guy and very trustworthy. He’s been around the block with a lot of experience.  He has coached for really good people, and, of course, has been a head coach in his own right. He’s had a lot of success and built a strong reputation in the Northeast. He brings a savvy and a nurturing, calming personality that will help shape the rest of the staff. He’s got a good eye for talent, and obviously has sat in this seat before and understands everything that comes with it.”

In addition to playing an instrumental role in recruiting, game-planning and opponent scouting, Hobbs was key in the development of the Scarlet Knights’ backcourt and perimeter players. Rutgers welcomed four-star signees from New Jersey in consecutive classes, with Ron Harper, Jr. (2018) and Paul Mulcahy (2019) both electing to stay home. After arriving on campus without a national prospect ranking, guard Geo Baker became a third-team All-Big Ten selection in 2019-20. Guard Caleb McConnell was named the Big Ten’s co-Defensive Player of the Year in 2023, and earned honorable mention All-Big Ten honors along with Mulcahy and Cam Spencer.

Despite playing the among the toughest conference schedules in the Big Ten, according to Ken Pom analysis the past four seasons, Rutgers made significant strides with Hobbs on staff. RU won 53 games over the past three years, including a 32-28 mark in the Big Ten.

TERRY PARKER, JR. | Assistant Coach

Parker helped lead UAB to 78 victories and trips to the NCAA Tournament and NIT during the last three seasons.

The Decatur, Ga., native brings 13 years of Division I coaching experience to the Yellow Jackets’ program after stops at UAB, Indiana State, Utah Valley University and Nicholls State.

Parker was a part of Blazer teams that won 29 games and reached the NIT finals in 2022-23, which followed a 27-8 season and an NCAA Tournament berth in 2021-22. UAB went 22-7 his first season in 2020-21. Five Blazers earned all-Conference USA honors during his time in Birmingham, including 2002 C-USA Player of the Year Jordan “Jelly” Walker.

“Terry has had to cut his teeth and work his way up,” said Stoudamire. “He’s unassuming in his ways, but he’s well respected in coaching circles. In talking with people, everything I’ve heard is positive. He exudes everything I look for in a coach, on and off the court. Relationships are powerful in this business, and he has them. I really look forward to being around him and watching him ascend in this profession.”

Prior to his term at UAB, Parker spent the previous six seasons as an assistant coach at Indiana State (2014-20). While at ISU, Parker coached 14 All-Missouri Valley Conference players a total of 17 times, including 2015 MVC Freshman of the Year Brenton Scott and 2020 MVC all-newcomer Jake LaRavia, who went on to be selected 19th in the 2022 NBA Draft.

He spent one season at Utah Valley, where he helped guide the Wolverines to a 20-12 overall record, 13-3 in the Western Athletic Conference in 2013-14. UVU was the WAC regular season champions in their first year in the league and recorded their first NIT appearance in school history.

Prior to Utah Valley, Parker served as an assistant coach at Nicholls State for four seasons (2010-14).

PERSHIN WILLIAMS | Assistant Coach

A former graduate assistant with the Georgia Tech men’s basketball program, Williams brings 12 years of full-time college coaching experience after helping head coach Amir Abdur-Rahim build Kennesaw State’s program into a championship team in the Atlantic Sun Conference and an NCAA Tournament team in 2023. KSU went 26-9 last season, 15-3 in the A-Sun, and three Owls earned all-conference recognition after being picked to finish eighth in the pre-season conference poll.

“Pershin is an up-and-coming talent in this business, and this is a great opportunity for him,” said Stoudamire. “He’s relatable, he has an infectious personality, and he can handle any role. He’s got a good eye for talent, and he was an integral piece in Kennesaw State’s elevation over the course of four years. He pours himself into relationships, which is a big part of who he is. He knows the Southeast area, and when you’ve had to cut your teeth the way he has, that’s something I value, because the relationships are real, and he’s had to develop them. I really respect him and how he’s grown in this business.”

Prior to his time at Kennesaw State, the Columbus, Ga., native served a three-year stint as the assistant coach at Columbus State University, his alma mater. In his first season with the Cougars, Columbus State captured a share of the Peach Belt Conference West Division title, reached the PBC Tournament final and appeared in the NCAA Tournament for the third straight season.

Prior to joining the CSU staff, Williams spent two years as the head boys’ basketball coach at Hardaway High School in Columbus, following one season at Nyack College and four years on the Georgia Southern coaching staff (2009-13). During his time at Georgia Southern, Williams helped coached five All-Southern Conference players.

Williams started his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Georgia Tech for two seasons (2005-07) before spending one season at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (2007-08) and Lafayette (2008-09).

 

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