Campus News

New men’s head basketball coach hired

Mark Fox from the University of Nevada has been hired as the head coach of the men’s basketball team at UGA.

“I had discussions with a number of coaches and I can’t express enough how impressed I was, and am, with Mark Fox,” said Damon Evans, director of athletics. “ I think he is an up-and-coming young coach who has a great future. He has been a winner in his time as a head coach at Nevada, and I think he is a great fit for the University of Georgia and we are a great fit for him.”

Fox succeeds Dennis Felton, who was dismissed Jan. 29 after going 84-91 in six seasons at UGA.

During Fox’s five-year tenure as head coach, Nevada has won at least 21 games each season, won or shared four straight Western Athletic Conference titles and played in three consecutive NCAA Tournaments. He was named the WAC Don Haskins Coach of the Year three times.

“I am honored and humbled by the opportunity to be the basketball coach at the University of Georgia,” Fox said. “This is a wonderful place for me and my family to be, a great academic institution with an outstanding athletic department. I’m leaving a great situation and will be forever grateful for the University of Nevada and its people. But I look forward to getting started here at Georgia.”

Fox played college basketball at Garden City (Kan.) Community College (1987-1989) and then lettered two seasons at Eastern New Mexico University (1989-1991) in Portales, N.M. He graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor of science degree in physical education from Eastern New Mexico in 1991 and obtained a master’s of science degree in athletic administration and sports psychology from the University of Kansas in 1996.