USF Athletics

Gregory Participates in Soldiers to Sidelines Coaching Seminar

September 18, 2020

TAMPA, SEPT. 18, 2020 – University of South Florida men's basketball head coach Brian Gregory was chosen as one of a select group of NCAA head coaches to participate in the 2020 Soldiers to Sidelines coaching seminar that took place on Thursday.

The virtual seminar provides training to soldiers interested in coaching basketball in their communities. Soldiers to Sidelines is on a mission to provide a path for current and former military members to become great coaches through training, development and networking in athletics.

"I was blessed with the opportunity to do a clinic during the Soldiers to Sidelines basketball seminar, helping our brave warriors prepare themselves for a transition into coaching," Gregory said. "It was an honor to be part of it and we all would be lucky if our sons or daughters learned the game under the tutelage of these true American heroes."

Soldiers to Sidelines develops all branches of active duty, retired or wounded military members into coaches to work in all sports in cities throughout the United States through a simple staged process.

"One incentive for the future soldier coaches is the inspiring talent of guest coaches set up by Soldiers to Sidelines Basketball," Director Leigh Klein said. "The response is strong from college basketball coaches to support Soldiers to Sidelines, as we have support from over 20 head and assistant coaches."

Welcoming the veterans and current service members to the virtual seminar is ESPN's college basketball analyst and former USF head coach Seth Greenberg. Greenberg joined ESPN in 2012, bringing 35 years of coaching experience. He is also committed to his community and multiple charitable causes. Additional college basketball experts include ESPN basketball analyst Fran Fraschilla and CBS Sports Network basketball analyst Jon Rothstein.

Current soldier coaches such as Matt Zosel, men's basketball head coach at Lane Community College and Jackie Alexander, women's assistant coach at Eastern Kentucky University, entered into college basketball coaching without the benefits of Soldiers To Sidelines.

"I am very inspired to know that Soldiers to Sidelines has a program to support the next generation of soldier coaches," Zosel said. "This is a program that I would have immediately joined during my own entry into coaching basketball. Soldiers to Sidelines is a tremendous resource for veterans and service members. The community of support provided is an invaluable resource for veterans transitioning into the coaching world."   

The amazing combination of interest from the veteran and service member community and support from top-tier college basketball coaches has set conditions for success in the inaugural STS Virtual Basketball Coaching Certification Seminar. STS will continue its support of soldier coaches with future seminars to include football in November 2020 and sports performance in December 2020. Visit www.soldierstosidelines.org for more information and further updates.

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About USF Men's Basketball
The USF men's basketball team is led by head coach Brian Gregory. On March 22, 2017, Gregory was introduced as the 10^th head coach in program history. He previously led programs at Georgia Tech (2011-16) and Dayton (2003-11). Gregory spent nearly a decade as an assistant coach under Michigan State's Hall of Fame head coach Tom Izzo and helped the Spartans win the 2000 NCAA National Championship. Gregory owns nearly 300 career head coaching wins and six postseason appearances, including the 2010 NIT Championship. In his second season at the helm of the Bulls, Gregory led the team to the best win turnaround in the NCAA, the most single-season wins in school history and the 2019 College Basketball Invitational championship. 

USF has retired three numbers in its 47-year history: Chucky Atkins (12), Charlie Bradley (30) and Radenko Dobras (31). The Bulls have earned three NCAA tournament bids, appeared in the NIT eight times and won the 2019 College Basketball Invitational.

For tickets, contact the USF Ticket Office at 1-800-Go-Bulls or by going online to USFBullsTix.com.