University of South Florida Men's Basketball

Years In Coaching: 16th season Years at USF: 1st Alma Mater: Bachelor’s degree – Xavier, 1992 Hometown: Cleveland, Ohio Family: Wife: Christi; Children: Lainee, Hailee & Brayden NOTABLE: • 2016 Henry Iba Award (USBWA National Coach of the Year) • 12 20-win seasons in 15 years as a head coach • Owns a nearly 68% winning percentage • Nine NCAA Tournament appearances, including four Sweet 16 appearances and one Elite Eight. Owns an 11-9 record in NCAA Tournament games. • Led Louisville to No. 1 AP Poll ranking and Xavier to No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. • Coach 10 players that went on to play in the NBA. • His 259 victories in his first 11 seasons are the 12th most of any college coach in that time span. • Part of 19 NCAA Tournament appearances as a player, assistant coach and head coach. • One of just 19 coaches in college basketball history to lead their team to a No. 1 ranking within the first two years leading a program. • All-time men’s basketball coaching wins leader at Xavier   COACHING HONORS 2016 Henry Iba Award (USBWA National Coach of the Year) 2018 Big East Coach of the Year (Xavier) 2018 NABC District 5 Coach of the Year (Xavier) 2011 Skip Prosser Man of the Year Award 2011 Atlantic 10 Conference Coach of the year 2009-10 Basketball Times Rookie Coach of the Year   NCAA Tournament Experience as a Coach (9) 2019 NCAA Tournament – Round of 64 (Louisville) 2018 NCAA Tournament – Round of 32 (Xavier) 2017 NCAA Tournament – Elite Eight (Xavier) 2016 NCAA Tournament – Round of 32 (Xavier) 2015 NCAA Tournament – Sweet 16 (Xavier) 2014 NCAA Tournament – First Four (Xavier) 2012 NCAA Tournament – Sweet 16 (Xavier) 2011 NCAA Tournament – Round of 64 (Xavier) 2010 NCAA Tournament – Sweet 16 (Xavier) Conference Championships as a Coach (3) 2018 Big East Regular Season Champions (Xavier) 2011 A-10 Regular Season Champions (Xavier) 2010 A-10 Regular Season Champions (Xavier) Chris Mack was named the 13th head coach of University of South Florida men’s basketball by CEO of Athletics Rob Higgins on March 25, 2026. The 2016 national coach of the year, Mack brought more than 300 wins and a nearly 68 percent career winning percentage to Tampa. In front of an overflow crowd at his South Florida introduction, Mack outlined four foundational principles his program will teach: 1) physical and mental toughness, 2) resiliency, 3) unity, and 4) bringing energy and passion every day. "If you can't be an every day guy, you can't be a Bull," Mack said. "Some of the best players I've ever coached are also the best people. I thrive on every day guys. That means they bring the same effort, the same attitude, the same energy every single day. They may not ring the same result every day, but they're going to bring the same effort, attitude and energy. You win with those types of guys all day, every day." Mack, who led Xavier and Louisville to the NCAA Tournament, came to South Florida after posting a pair of 20-win seasons at the College of Charleston. He owns a career record of 323-153 (.679) across 15 seasons as a head coach with stops at Xavier (2009-18), Louisville (2018-22), and College of Charleston (2024-26). Mack has posted 12 20-win seasons and led teams to nine NCAA Tournament appearances (posting an 11-9 record), including four Sweet 16 and one Elite Eight appearance with Xavier. He posted 259 victories in his first 11 seasons as a head coach, marking the 12th most amassed by a coach in that time frame. As a player, assistant coach, and head coach, Mack has been a part of 19 NCAA Tournament appearances. Teams Mack has led have achieved both a No. 1 Associated Press Poll ranking (Louisville) and a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament (Xavier). One of just 19 coaches in college basketball history to lead their team to a No. 1 ranking within the first two years at their school, Mack was named the 2016 Henry Iba Award winner as the national coach of the year selected by the United States Basketball Writers Association. He has twice been named a conference coach of the year, earning 2018 Big East Coach the Year and 2011 Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year honors, and has led teams to three conference regular-season championships. Mack was also named the winner of the 2011 Skip Prosser Man of the Year Award, given annually to an NCAA Division I men’s basketball head coach who not only achieves success on the basketball court, but displays moral integrity off the court as well. Mack came to South Florida after two seasons leading the College of Charleston program. In his first season, he guided the Cougars to a 24-9 record and a 13-5 mark in the Coastal Athletic Association. He followed that with a 21-11 mark (14-4 CAA) and a second-place conference finish in 2025-26. Mack guided Louisville to a 24-7 record and a 15-5 ACC mark in 2019-2020. It was the best overall record through 31 games for a Louisville team in six years and marked the most conference victories for the Cardinals in their first six years in the ACC. The Cards achieved a Top 15 ranking throughout the season, including two weeks as the nation's No. 1-ranked team in the AP and USA Today polls. No postseason was held that year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In his first season at Louisville (2018-19), Mack guided the Cardinals to a 20-14 record while facing the nation's fourth-toughest schedule and earned a No. 7 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Picked to finish 11th in the ACC, Louisville achieved a 10-8 conference record and earned a tie for sixth in the final regular season standings. The Cardinals beat four Associated Press Top 25-ranked teams and reached No. 22 in the nation in the NCAA's NET rankings. Louisville ranked among the nation's top 30 teams in both offensive (27th) and defensive efficiency (24th).   Mack spent nine seasons as the head coach at Xavier, guiding the Musketeers to a 215-97 record and eight NCAA Tournament appearances, including reaching the Sweet 16 on four occasions (2010, 2012, 2015, 2017) and the Elite Eight in 2017. His teams won or shared three conference regular season championships while compiling a 105-49 (68.1%) league record over five seasons in the Big East and four in the Atlantic 10. His 2017-18 squad achieved a 29-6 record, won Xavier's first-ever Big East Conference regular season championship, and earned the school's first-ever No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Mack was honored as the 2018 Big East Coach of the Year and NABC District 5 Coach of the Year as he became the all-time coaching wins leader in Xavier men’s basketball history. His 2016-17 Xavier team made an NCAA Tournament run to the Elite Eight after earning a No. 11 seed. The Musketeers defeated No. 6 seed Maryland, No. 3 Florida State and No. 2 Arizona before falling to No. 1 seed Gonzaga in the Elite Eight. Mack was named the 2010-11 Atlantic 10 Conference Coach of the Year in his second year as a head coach, as he led the Musketeers to a 15-1 conference record and top-20 national ranking. He also earned the Skip Prosser Man of the Year award that season. He was named the 2009-10 Basketball Times Rookie Coach of the Year as he guided Xavier to a 26-9 record, a share of the Atlantic 10 regular-season championship and advancement to the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16. Before becoming a head coach, Mack was a part of successful staffs throughout his career. He spent five seasons as an assistant on Sean Miller's Xavier staff (2004-09) after serving on the staffs of the late Skip Prosser at Xavier, as director of basketball operations (1999-01), and at Wake Forest (2001-04), as an assistant coach. In 10 seasons as an assistant or operations director, he helped his teams produce a 229-96 record (.705), win four regular-season conference titles and one conference tournament championship, secure eight NCAA Tournament appearances and make three Sweet 16 appearances and one Elite Eight. A 1992 Xavier graduate with a degree in Communication Arts, Mack was a two-time team captain as a player at Xavier under then-head coach Pete Gillen. His Xavier teams won an MCC regular season title and made an NCAA Tournament appearance in 1993. He also played two seasons at Evansville, helping the Purple Aces to a 1989 conference title and the NCAA Tournament. Mack and his wife, Christi, have three children: Lainee, Hailee and Brayden. Chris Mack Coaching Career 2026-              Head Coach, South Florida 2024-2026      Head Coach, College of Charleston 2018-2022      Head Coach, University of Louisville 2009-2018      Head Coach, Xavier University 2004-2009      Assistant Coach, Xavier University 2001-2004      Assistant Coach, Wake Forest University 1999-2001      Assistant Coach, Xavier University   QUOTABLE "Chris Mack is a winner, plain and simple. He is among the best teachers and communicators in the game, and his teams always fight together to win. Mack's teams are always tough, disciplined and gritty. USF hired an outstanding coach in Chris Mack." - Jay Bilas, ESPN college basketball analyst "Coach Mack brought a winning culture from day one. He pushed me every single day to grow as a player and a competitor. He played a major role in helping me achieve my goal of becoming a pro, and I'm a better player and person because of every moment I was coached by him. He's a perfect fit to lead USF, and I have no doubt he'll elevate the program and help them win at a high level both on and off the court." - Jordan Nwora, played for Mack at Louisville "There is a reason why Chris Mack has obtained conference championships, 1-seeds in the NCAA Tournament, an Elite Eight trip, four Sweet 16 trips and much more, and it starts with work ethic. He will bring a Tampa toughness to the area, an unrelenting will to win and an identity that will make the area proud of their Bulls. But what I love about Chris is that he relates to people. He can sit back and have a beverage to watch a game and talk to anybody. He treats everybody the same way and expects his young men to be the same way. Chris is a great father, husband and leader. USF delivered a slam dunk!" - John Fanta, NBC Sports "Chris Mack is the perfect leader for our next chapter. He has not only been where we are going, but he has also won where we are going. He's ready to lead us there. Coach Mack has an incredible resume, but you can't teach his relationships, his resilience, his desire, his work ethic, his collaborative spirit. His preparation and execution around the transfer portal stands out. His deep relationships with his players stand out. His ability to bring an elite staff and build a roster really quickly stands out. In short, Chris Mack stands out.''  - South Florida CEO of Athletics Rob Higgins “I am truly excited for the opportunity to lead a South Florida basketball program that’s on an exceptional trajectory and to join a university and athletic department defined by strong leadership, shared aspirations, and tremendous alignment. The exceptional vision and commitment Rob outlined are inspiring, and I am grateful for his trust and belief in my leadership of Bulls basketball. I’m eager to connect with Bulls Nation, the students in the SoFlo Rodeo, and the passionate fans who make the Yuengling Center such a special home court.” - South Florida Head Coach Chris Mack                                  

Years In Coaching: 18th season Years at USF: 1st Alma Mater: Indiana, 2009 - Bachelor’s degree in sports marketing and management                  Xavier, 2011 – Master’s degree in sport administration Hometown: St. Louis, Mo. Family: Wife: Samantha; Children: Jonah & Joanna NOTABLE: • Growe has been on the staff of teams that have won four conference championships • He has been a staff member on teams that have made nine NCAA Tournament appearances, including four Sweet 16 appearances and one Elite Eight NCAA Tournament Experience (9) 2023 NCAA Tournament – Round of 32 (Furman) 2018 NCAA Tournament – Round of 32 (Xavier) 2017 NCAA Tournament – Elite Eight (Xavier) 2016 NCAA Tournament – Round of 32 (Xavier) 2015 NCAA Tournament – Sweet 16 (Xavier) 2014 NCAA Tournament – First Four (Xavier) 2012 NCAA Tournament – Sweet 16 (Xavier) 2011 NCAA Tournament – Round of 64 (Xavier) 2010 NCAA Tournament – Sweet 16 (Xavier) Conference Championships (3) 2023 Southern Conference Tournament Championship 2018 Big East Regular Season Champions (Xavier) 2011 A-10 Regular Season Champions (Xavier) 2010 A-10 Regular Season Champions (Xavier) Jeremy Growe joined Chris Mack’s first South Florida staff as associate head coach in March of 2026. He came to Tampa after serving as an assistant coach for two seasons on Mack’s staff at the College of Charleston (2024-26), continuing a coaching partnership that began with Growe serving first as a graduate assistant and then as director of operations on Mack’s staff at Xavier. In two seasons at Charleston, Growe helped lead the Cougars to a pair of 20-win seasons. In the 2024-25 season, he helped guide the program to a 24-9 overall record and an appearance in the CAA semifinals. The Cougars posted a 21-11 mark (14-4 in the CAA) and finished second in the conference in 2025-26. Growe came to Charleston after a successful five-year tenure on Bob Richey’s staff at Furman (2019-24), serving the first two seasons as an assistant coach before being promoted to associate head coach for the final three. He helped lead the Paladins to three 20-win seasons during his tenure. In 2022-23, Furman posted a school-record 28 victories, highlighted by an 88-79 triumph over Chattanooga to win the Southern Conference Tournament Championship and a 68-67 victory over No. 4 seed Virginia in the opening round of the 2023 NCAA Tournament. Seniors Mike Bothwell and Jalen Slawson both garnered first team All-SoCon accolades for the second straight year and were named finalists for the Lou Henson Mid-Major Player of the Year Award. Slawson earned SoConPlayer of the Year honors and was selected to play in the NABC Reese's College All-Star Game before being taken in the second round of the NBA Draft by the Sacramento Kings. Bothwell inked a free agent deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers.  In his first season with the Paladins, Growe helped Furman to a 25-7 overall record and 15-3 SoCon mark. The Paladins posted a then school-record for victories, while finishing the year ranked No. 74 in the NCAA Evaluation Tool (NET) Rankings and No. 81 in the Pomeroy Ratings. Jordan Lyons, a College Insider Mid-Major All-American, earned first team All-SoCon honors while Clay Mounce and Noah Gurley received third team all-league accolades. Lyons finished his Furman career as the winningest player in school history with 96 victories. Growe joined the Paladins after 10 seasons at Xavier (2009-19). He assumed the role of director of men's basketball operations at Xavier in 2011 after spending the previous two seasons as a graduate assistant under Mack, marking his first opportunity on a collegiate staff.  During Growe's 10 years with the Xavier program, the Musketeers compiled a 234-113 record, won three conference championships (2018 BIG EAST regular season title and two regular season Atlantic 10 Conference championships), played in eight NCAA Tournaments, reached an Elite Eight and tallied four Sweet 16 appearances. While serving as a graduate assistant, Growe completed his master's degree from Xavier University in sport administration in 2011.  He came to Xavier after graduating from Indiana University in 2009 with a degree in sport marketing and management. During his time at Indiana, Growe spent the 2006-07 and 2007-08 seasons as a student basketball manager. During his time in Bloomington, Ind., the Hoosiers went 46-19 and notched back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances. A St. Louis, Mo., native, Growe spent the summers of 2008 and 2009 working with the Indiana Elite AAU program. During his time with Indiana Elite, Growe participated in on the floor coaching of players during games and practices, recruited players to the program and handled administrative tasks for the team. He coached multiple Division I players during his time with the program. Growe and his wife, Samantha, have a son, Jonah, and daughter, Joanna. Jeremy Growe Coaching Career 2026-               South Florida, Associate Head Coach 2024-26           College of Charleston, Assistant Coach 2021-24           Furman, Associate Head Coach 2019-21           Furman, Assistant Coach 2011-19           Xavier, Director of Operations 2009-11           Xavier, Graduate Assistant  

Chris Elliott joined the USF staff in August 2025 and serves as the Assistant Director of Athletic Training for the University of South Florida men’s basketball team. He is a certified and licensed athletic trainer who brings NCAA Division I, elite academy, and professional sports experience to the Bulls. Before joining USF, Elliott worked at Grand Canyon University with men’s basketball and men’s golf, at IMG Academy with post-graduate and varsity boys’ basketball, and at Stephen F. Austin State University as the Head Athletic Trainer for men’s basketball and women’s bowling. He also completed a preseason internship with the Tennessee Titans. He is a former two-sport NCAA Division II student-athlete at Trevecca Nazarene University. Elliott holds a bachelor’s degree in exercise science and a master’s in athletic training. He is certified in Corrective Exercise, Dry Needling, and Graston Technique, and remains an active member of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association.  

X: @CoachAllenPayne Instagram: @CoachAllenPayne   Years In Coaching: 12th season Years at USF: 1st Alma Mater: Auburn, 2014 - Bachelor’s degree in public administration. Hometown: Cincinnati, Ohio Family: Wife, Tyrese; Daughter: Ava ; Sons: AJ & Tyler   NOTABLE: • 2025 Jay Bilas Coaches Leadership Program and Top 25 Watchlist • Silver Waves Media Rising Star (2022) • In 2019 was recognized on the Under Armour NABC 30 Coaches Under 30 list • Helped guide IUP to back-to-back conference regular-season championships and the PSAC Tournament title in 2019. • Three-year starter and team captain at Auburn as a player • Worked as a GA for Chris Mack at Xavier Allen Payne joined Chris Mack’s first South Florida staff as an assistant coach in April of 2026. It marked a reuniting as Payne served his first coaching position as a graduate assistant on Mack’s Xavier staff.   Payne came to Tampa after four seasons as an assistant coach at Georgia State (2022-26), where he helped produce All-Sun Belt selections Cesare Edwards (2025) and Jelani Hamilton (2026). During that time, he was part of the 2025 Jay Bilas Coaches Leadership Program and Top 25 Watchlist.   Prior to his stint at Georgia State, Payne was an assistant coach at Elon (2019-22) for three seasons. He helped lead the Phoenix to the program's first appearance in the 2021 Colonial Athletic Association championship game in 2021, following a berth in the tournament semifinals for the first time in 2020. In 2022, he was named a Silver Waves Media Rising Star.   During his time on the Elon staff, Payne's focus on defensive scouting and game-planning helped lead to significant defensive improvement as the Phoenix lowered their points allowed per game from 76.4 ppg in the year before his arrival to 71.7 ppg in 2019-20 and then to 65.0 ppg allowed in 2020-21. That year, Elon led the CAA and ranked in the top 50 nationally in scoring defense.   Payne also played a key role in helping Elon student-athletes earn five All-CAA awards in his last two years.   Before joining Elon, Payne was an integral part of a very successful coaching staff at Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) for two seasons (2017-19). He helped guide the program to back-to-back conference regular-season championships and the PSAC Tournament title in 2019. That earned the Crimson Hawks a berth in the 2019 NCAA D-II Tournament and a No. 2 overall final ranking with a 30-3 record, the third 30-win season in program history.   In 2019 Payne was recognized on the Under Armour NABC 30 Coaches Under 30 list.   Payne's responsibilities at IUP included recruiting, opponent scouting, player development and administrative duties.   Payne began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Xavier for two seasons (2015-17). In both seasons, he assisted the staff in leading Xavier to back-to-back NCAA tournament appearances, including a trip to the Elite Eight as a No. 11 seed in 2017.   As a collegiate player, Payne was a three-year starter at Auburn who was selected as a team captain in his senior season. He went on to play one year of professional basketball in the United Kingdom for the Sheffield Sharks.   Payne is a 2014 Auburn graduate with a bachelor’s degree in public administration.   The Cincinnati, Ohio, native was an all-state prep player Payne at Winton Woods High School.   Payne is married to the former Tyrese Tanner, who was an All-SEC women’s basketball standout at Auburn. The couple has one daughter, Ava, and one son, AJ.   Payne Coaching Career 2026-               South Florida, Assistant Coach 2022-26           Georgia Southern, Assistant Coach 2019-22           Elon, Assistant Coach 2017-19           IUP, Assistant Coach 2015-17           Xavier, Graduate Assistant    

Years In Coaching: 7th season Years at USF: 1st Alma Mater: Samford, 2018 – Bachelor's degree in public administration             Louisville, 2019 – Master's degree in sport administration Hometown: Georgetown, Ky. NOTABLE: • Played for Chris Mack at Louisville (2018-19) and served on Mack coaching staffs at Louisville and College of Charleston prior to arriving at South Florida. • Set Samford’s all-time career assist record (514) as a player and ranks 13th on the program’s scoring list with 1,283 points. Christen Cunningham joined Chris Mack’s first South Florida staff as an assistant coach in March of 2026.   Cunningham played for Mack for one season at Louisville and previously served for two seasons as assistant coach/general manager on his staff at the College of Charleston (20024-26). In the 2024-25 season, he helped guide the program to a 24-9 overall record and an appearance in the CAA semifinals. The Cougars posted a 21-11 mark (14-4 in the CAA) and finished second in the conference in 2025-26. Prior to arriving in Charleston, Cunningham served for two seasons on the staff at Rhode Island (2022-24), starting as the program’s director of player development before being named an assistant coach. Cunningham arrived in Rhode Island from Louisville, where he finished his collegiate playing career and served as a graduate assistant on Mack’s staffs from 2020-22. Cunningham was a team captain at Louisville in 2018-19 as a graduate transfer and averaged 10.1 points and 4.9 assists per game for a Mack-coached team that won 20 games and earned an NCAA Tournament appearance.   The Georgetown, Ky. native was a three-year starter and team captain at Samford prior to transferring to Louisville. He set Samford's all-time career assist record with 514 and ranked fifth in the nation with a school-record 225 assists in the 2016-17 season. Cunningham finished his Samford career ranked 13th on the school's all-time scoring list with 1,283 career points. Before beginning his coaching career, Cunningham spent the 2019-20 season playing professionally in the Croatian Premier League and Adriatic Basketball Association.   He earned a bachelor's degree in public administration from Samford in 2018 and a master's degree in sport administration from Louisville in 2019.   Christen Cunningham Coaching Career 2026-               South Florida, Assistant Coach 2024-26           College of Charleston, Assistant Coach 2023-24           Rhode Island, Assistant Coach 2022-23           Rode Island, Director of Player Development 2020-22           Louisville, Graduate Assistant    

Years In Coaching: 16th season Years at USF: 1st Alma Mater: Xavier, 2011 – Bachelor's degree in liberal arts                   Xavier, 2014 – Master’s degree in sport administration Hometown: Greenfield, Ohio Family: Daughter, Alaya NOTABLE: • Played for and coached under Chris Mack at Xavier • Played in four NCAA Tournaments as a Xavier player and won seven tournament games, including appearances in the Elite Eight and two Sweet 16s. NCAA Tournament Experience as a Coach 2025 NCAA Tournament – Round of 32 (Xavier) 2023 NCAA Tournament – Sweet 16 (Xavier) 2012 NCAA Tournament – Sweet 16 (Ohio) Dante Jackson joined Chris Mack’s first South Florida staff as an assistant coach in March of 2026. It marked a reuniting as Jackson previously played for Mack at Xavier and served as a graduate assistant on Mack coaching staffs at Xavier. Jackson came to South Florida after eight seasons as an assistant coach at Xavier (2018-26). He helped lead Xavier to five postseason appearances, including a win over Texas in the 2025 NCAA Tournament. XU recorded one of the top five winningest seasons in school history in 2023, tying the school record for BIG EAST wins in a season (15-5) and reaching the 2023 NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 before finishing with a 27-10 record. He was also part of the staff for Xavier's 2022 NIT Championship run. Jackson returned to Xavier after stops as an assistant coach at Northern Kentucky (2015-16), Air Force (2016-17), Robert Morris (2017-18) and a brief stint at Kent State. Jackson served as a graduate assistant under Mack at Xaiver from 2012-14, helping the Musketeers earn a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances and reach the 2012 Sweet 16. His final season of 2013-14, marked Xavier’s first season as a member of the BIG EAST Conference and saw the Musketeers go 21-13, including a 10-8 mark and third-place finish in the conference, and earn an at-large berth to the 2014 NCAA Tournament. Jackson started his collegiate coaching career as a graduate assistant for one season at Ohio University (2011-12) under head coach John Groce. The Bobcats finished with an overall record of 29-8 that season, won the 2012 Mid-American Conference (MAC) Tournament title and advanced to the Sweet 16 of the 2012 NCAA Tournament. Born in Columbus, Ohio and raised in Greenfield, Ohio, Jackson is a 2011 graduate of Xavier University with a bachelor's degree in liberal arts. He earned his master’s degree in sport administration from Xavier in 2014. Jackson played in four NCAA Tournaments as a Musketeer player and won seven tournament games, including an Elite Eight and two Sweet 16 appearances. He played his first two seasons under Sean Miller, helping XU reach the 2008 Elite Eight and the 2009 NCAA Sweet 16. He played his final two seasons under Chris Mack, helping XU reach another Sweet 16 in 2010 and the NCAA Second Round in 2011. Jackson concluded his playing career with the Musketeers with 107 victories, just one shy of the school record held by Jason Love. A three-year starter, Jackson started the last 54 games of his career and 88 games overall as he posted career totals of 795 points, 374 rebounds and 255 assists. He shared the school record for games played with 137 until 2018. Jackson has a daughter, Alaya. Dante Jackson Coaching Career 2026-              South Florida, Assistant Coach 20018-26         Xavier, Assistant Coach 2017-18           Robert Morris, Assistant Coach 2016-17           Air Force, Assistant Coach 2015-16           Northern Kentucky, Assistant Coach 2012-14           Xavier, Graduate Assistant 2011-12           Ohio University, Graduate Assistant  

Max Wittenberg, hired in April 2025, is entering his first season as the University of South Florida men’s basketball team’s video coordinator.   Wittenberg previously served as a graduate assistant under head coach Nate Oats at the University of Alabama. In that role, he broke down game and practice film, created opponent scouting reports, and compiled analytics to assist the coaching staff in game planning and player development. He also helped organize and operate youth summer basketball camps. During his two seasons in Tuscaloosa, the Crimson Tide advanced to their first Final Four in program history and reached the Elite Eight.   Prior to his time at Alabama, Wittenberg spent four years as a student manager for the University of Michigan men’s basketball program under head coach Juwan Howard. While at Michigan, the Wolverines won a Big Ten championship and made Sweet 16 and Elite Eight appearances.   Wittenberg, a native of Bloomfield, Michigan, earned a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology from the University of Michigan and a master’s degree in sport management from the University of Alabama.   Max Wittenberg History 2025-Present               Video Coordinator, University of South Florida 2023-2025                    Graduate Assistant, University of Alabama 2019-2023                    Student Manager, University of Michigan    

X: @SFFiveTu Instagram: @ssfivetu   Years In Coaching: 1st season Years at USF: 1st season Alma Mater: Xavier University, 2012 – Bachelor’s degree in communications Hometown: Hempstead, N.Y.   NOTABLE • 2011 Atlantic-10 Player of the Year • Two-time AP Third Team All-American • Xavier teams won 100 games (average of 25 per year), won three A-10 regular season titles and made the NCAA Tournament four times, including three Sweet 16 appearances. • Recorded 1,833 career points, sixth on Xavier’s all-time scoring list, and 550 career assists, third Xavier’s all-time list, dishing 100 or more assists and leading the team in assists in three straight seasons. Tu Holloway joined Chris Mack’s first South Florida staff as director of player development in April of 2026.   Holloway came to Tampa after a 14-year professional playing career that saw him play for teams in 14 countries, including in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean.   An NBA D-League All-Star selection in 2015, he had a long and successful career playing internationally. Holloway led Piratas de Quebradillas (Puerto Rico) to the 2017 Baloncesto Superior Nacional championship, earning the Finals MVP honors. He returned to Hapoel Holon (Isreal) on a one-year deal in 2018 and was named Israeli League Round 20 MVP and won the 2018 Israeli State Cup with Holon, as well as reaching the 2018 Israeli League Final. In 35 games played during the 2017–18 season, he averaged 15.5 points, 2.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.3 blocks per game.   A standout point guard at Xavier (2008-12), Holloway’s Xavier teams won 100 games (an average of 25 per season), won three A-10 regular season titles and made the NCAA Tournament four times, including three Sweet 16 appearances. He finished his career ranked sixth all-time in scoring (1,833) and third in assists (550) in Xavier history after leading the team in assists three straight seasons (recording 100 or more each season) and in scoring twice. He also set Xavier records with a career free throw percentage of 85.2 and 675 free throws made, also setting a single-game mark of 17-of-17 at Richmond in 2011.   He was named the 2011 Atlantic-10 Player of the Year and a member of the A-10 All-Defensive Team as a junior after leading the conference with 5.4 assists per game and finishing second in the league in scoring at 19.7 ppg. He led the Musketeers to the regular season A-10 title. Holloway was also the only player in NCAA Division I basketball to record two triple-doubles during the season and received national recognition as he was named a third-team All-American by the Associated Press, Fox Sports, and Sporting News magazine.   In 2011-12 he earned Lute Olson All-America Team (CollegeInsider.com) recognition for the second straight year as well as NABC All-District 4 First Team, Atlantic 10 Conference First Team, and a number of honorable mention All-America recognitions. Earned 2012 A-10 All-Championship Team selection after averaging 19.7 ppg in XU's three games.   A part-time starter as a freshman, he became the starting point guard as a sophomore, playing alongside future NBA player Jordan Crawford. He averaged 12.1 points and 3.9 assists that year and helped the Musketeers to a 26–9 record and a share of the Atlantic 10 title. He went on to score 26 points vs. Kansas State in a classic 2010 NCAA Tournament Regional Semifinal.   Born August 21, 1989, in Hempstead, N.Y., Holloway earned his bachelor’s degree in communications from Xavier in 2012.   Holloway Coaching Career 2026-               South Florida, Director of Player Development   Holloway Playing Career 2012–2013      Aliaga Petkim 2013–2014      Leuven Bears 2014                Atléticos de San Germán 2014                Guaros de Lara 2014–2015      Halcones Rojos Veracruz 2015                Guaros de Lara 2015                Mets de Guaynabo 2015–2016      Texas Legends 2016                Guaros de Lara 2016–2017      Vanoli Cremona 2017                Hapoel Holon 2017                Piratas de Quebradillas 2017–2018      Hapoel Holon 2018–2019      Istanbul BB 2019                Incheon ET Land Elephants 2019                Piratas de Quebradillas 2019–2020      Rytas Vilnius 2020–2021      OGM Ormanspor 2021                Piratas de Quebradillas 2021–2022      Maccabi Rishon LeZion 2022                Zamalek 2022–2024      Real Estelí 2023                Cagrejeros de Santurce 2024                Plateros de Fresnillo 2024                Brillantes del Zulia 2024                Cocodrilos de Caracas 2024-2025       London Lions 2025                Metros de Santiago s

Years at USF: 1st Alma Mater: Louisville Seth Tatum joined Chris Mack’s first South Florida staff as director of operations in March of 2026. Tatum came to Tampa after two seasons as the director of basketball operations at the College of Charleston (2024-26) under Mack. A graduate of the University of Louisville, Tatum spent four seasons with Mack as a student manager before becoming a graduate assistant with the Cardinals.   While at Louisville, he worked with editing opponents’ game video, team practice video recording, packing and organizing equipment, aiding in scouting materials and has tracked key team statistics during games.  “Seth Tatum is a workhorse and an incredibly loyal person. Seth started as an undergrad manager with me at the University of Louisville and is now our staff’s right-hand man for all things administratively. He can handle multiple assignments at a time and his meticulous approach always gets the job done right.” Christen Cunningham Coaching Career 2026-               South Florida, Director of Basketball Operations 2024-26           College of Charleston, Director of Operations 2020-22           Louisville, Graduate Assistant  

X: @WessmanAndy Instagram: @WessmanAndy Andy Wassman joined Chris Mack’s first South Florida staff as associate basketball general manager in April of 2026.   Wessman comes to Tampa after serving for two years as a graduate assistant at BYU (2024-26).   In his role at BYU, he assisted in all aspects of player recruitment and talent evaluation and contributed to securing the No. 4 ranked overall recruiting class nationally (247Sports). BYU also secured the 18th ranked high school recruiting class, including the No. 1 recruit in the nation, and the 15th ranked overall transfer class (247Sports).   Wessman previously served at ProMondo Sports as a basketball operations associate.   A graduate of DePauw University (2024) with a degree in communications, he served as a student manager for the basketball team for a season before becoming student director of basketball operations (2022-24).   A native of Chicago, he holds his high school’s record for charges taken in a game (7) and also boxed in high school.   Experience 2024-26           BYU Graduate Assistant 2023-24           ProMondo Sports, Basketball Operations Associate 2022-24           DePauw University, Student Director of Basketball Operations 2021-22           DePauw University, Student Manager