B.J. Elder, a standout member of the Yellow Jackets’ 2004 NCAA runner-up team, was elevated to assistant coach in December 2023 for the remainder of the 2023-24 season, and was promoted officially to the post in July of 2024. He joined the men’s basketball staff in July of 2019 as associate director of player personnel.
A veteran of 10 years in European professional basketball following his stellar Tech career, Elder, 39, came to Tech following three seasons as assistant boys’ basketball coach at Clarkston High School. He has served as the basketball staff’s liaison with academic services, campus housing and dining, media and marketing, as well as spearheading outreach to former Tech players.
Why B.J. Elder has joined Georgia Tech’s staff – Atlanta Journal-Constitution, July 16, 2019
One of the most prolific 3-point shooters in school history, the 6-foot-4 Elder made his mark on the 2004 Georgia Tech team that reached the NCAA Championship game. He was named a Wooden Award finalist that season, in which he placed seventh among ACC scorers at 14.9 points per game and shot 78 percent from the foul line. Elder was an honorable mention All-America selection by the Associated Press that season, and was also named All-District 4 by the USBWA, All-District 5 by the NABC and was one of the final 20 candidates for the Wooden Award All-America team.
The Madison, Ga., native was voted to All-ACC Freshman team in 2002 and placed third in ACC Freshman of the Year voting. He went on to twice earn All-ACC honors (2003, 2004). Despite a hamstring injury that forced him to miss nine full games his senior year and hampered him throughout the remainder of the season, Elder finished his collegiate career with 1,616 points to rank 13th on the Yellow Jackets’ all-time scoring list. He finished fourth on the school’s all-time in 3-point field goals with 222, twice connecting on seven in a single game.
“It’s a thrill to be able to come back to Georgia Tech and start the next phase of my career,” said Elder, who was inducted into the Georgia Tech Sports Hall of Fame in 2017. “I’m excited to join this program and do whatever needs to be done to continue building it, help our players here and continue to keep our alumni players involved.”
Elder, who attended Morgan County High School, played professionally in four countries, retiring in 2014 following three seasons in Italy. He continued to work toward his bachelor’s degree, completing requirements for his degree in management in December of 2012.
He began his coaching career as an assistant basketball coach at Meadowcreek High School (2015-16) and a community coach for the Atlanta Hawks. While coaching at Clarkston High School (2016-19), Elder also served as assistant coach for the Atlanta Celtics AAU basketball program.
Elder and his wife Khristina have four children, Bradyn, 12, and Joshua, 9, and twins Kameron and Karrington, born in February of 2020.
