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Five Questions - Charlotte Associate Head Coach, Rob Moxley
By Christian Marge | July 22, 2008
In this edition of “Five Questions”, Rob Moxley of Charlotte shares his thoughts with College Chalktalk. Coach Moxley is now set for his tenth season with the Niners, having spent seven years as an assistant to Bobby Lutz, and the last two-plus as Associate Head Coach. Here’s what’s happening with the Niners.
College Chalktalk: Leemire Goldwire put the Niners on his back last season, particularly in Atlantic City (at the A-10 Tournament). What will it take to replace his leadership, and are there any players who have begun to fill that role?
Rob Moxley: The best attribute Lee had was that he led by example and not just talk. He also cared more than anyone else and he was our best player. When your best player is a great leader it goes a long way. As far as guys replacing Lee, we have signed Rashad Coleman, a 6′5″ wing who is very talented. 
We beat out Georgia Tech and Oklahoma State to get him. Shamarr Bowden, who will be a freshmen, is a 6′3″ shooter who never stops running and has Lee’s work ethic for sure. We also will have Ian Andersen back who has made some huge shots for us already. Ian is also a very good shooter. But, as far as replacing Lee’s leadership, you can’t. Each team is different and this group of guys will have to mold themselves into winners.
CCT: Can you tell us about the players in your incoming recruiting class?
RM: I just briefly alluded to Rashad Coleman, who is a great story. He went to Brewton Parker (an NAIA school) but then grew five inches and attended a junior college in Virginia. He’s a very talented wing who had offers from every major conference. Shamarr Bowden is a 6′3″ shooter who had huge games versus both Oak Hill and Hargrave, scoring over 30 in each. Shamarr was a Virginia Tech commit before deciding to reopen his recruitment. He attended the Miller School in Charlottesville, VA.
CCT: Even though he won’t be joining you on the floor until the 2009-10 season, can you talk about how exciting it is to be getting a low post player like transfer Shamari Spears from Boston College?
RM: Shamari Spears is a 6′6″ forward from Boston College. After sitting this upcoming year he will have a chance to be the Player of the Year in the A-10. He’s that good. We are thrilled to add Spears to our program. He is from Salisbury, N.C., which is only 45 minutes from our campus.
CCT: Your own career has taken you away from Charlotte for a time, as you left the Niners to become an assistant at Maryland for the 2005-06 season. What convinced you to return to Charlotte?
RM: When I went to Maryland, I certainly didn’t expect to return to Charlotte after only one season, however, I felt like it was the best move for me and my family and the quickest route to becoming a head coach. I admire and respect Gary Williams and I learned a great deal in my time with him. I want to help Bobby Lutz take our program back into the NCAA’s and hopefully one day be his replacement here at Charlotte. I have turned down offers from Virginia Tech and South Carolina the past two seasons because I believe in Bobby Lutz and in our players; I feel we can do something really special over the next few years. My family and I also love living in Harrisburg, N.C., and I really don’t think there is a better city in the world to live in. I also take great pride in Charlotte and in the players we have recruited over the past ten years.
CCT: The Atlantic 10 as a whole had a very successful 2007-08 campaign. The conference also lost a lot of marquee players to graduation. Who are some of the names around the A-10 of which you think fans should be aware in 2008-09?
RM: Yes, the A-10 had a great year!! We as a league beat many of the so-called power conferences. One player to watch would be Lamont Mack. Lamont had surgery last year and really wasn’t 100 percent until late in the season. He had a great tourney and run down the stretch. Dionte Christmas from Temple is an NBA wing player who really knows how to score. Chris Wright from Dayton will be a very difficult match-up this season. Derrick Brown from Xavier, and Richmond’s Dan Geriot and Kevin Anderson (last season’s A-10 Freshman of the Year) also will have an impact. Ahmad Nivins from Saint Joe’s is also a very good post player. Those are just a few.
(College Chalktalk would like to thank Coach Moxley for taking the time to answer questions about the 49ers and A-10. We look forward to speaking with him during the upcoming season.)
Topics: Five Questions |
July 22nd, 2008 at 7:19 am
Moxley is so excited about this job because there is no pressure to succeed. He can (deleted) around and make the NIT and everybody calls it a great season and they hang a banner in the rafters. This job is a cakewalk compared to at a ACC school.
July 22nd, 2008 at 7:54 am
Jake…please just stop with the hype of ACC play, its getting ridiculous
July 22nd, 2008 at 8:03 am
Jake, you’re an idiot! When Charlotte fails to make the NCAA, it is a disappointment. The Niners make the NCAA on a much more regular basis than the majority of ACC teams…..Also, if the ACC is so much better than Charlotte, how is the Charlotte coaching job (ie; recruting talented players) easier?…..Get a clue, moron!
July 22nd, 2008 at 9:08 am
Lutz just signed a 5 year deal with Charlotte - why is Moxley talking about becoming the next head coach? Is Bobby planning on backing out already?
July 22nd, 2008 at 10:10 am
Well, do you want to be doing the same job you’re doing now in 5 years? I think they call it a promotion??
July 22nd, 2008 at 11:02 am
It is well known that Mox is the “Associate Head Coach” right now and considered by most everyone close to the program to be the heir apparent to Lutz!
July 22nd, 2008 at 2:11 pm
Originally posted by Jake:
“This job is a cakewalk compared to at a ACC school”
Tell that to Clemson and Wake Forest.
Oh yeah, if you got an education at an ACC school (Which I doubt) you’d know that “at a ACC school” is incorrect.
July 23rd, 2008 at 7:35 am
When Moxley becomes Head Coach he can just continue Lutz’s legacy of junk defenses and die by the 3 abortions of a half court offense. Hooray?
July 28th, 2008 at 9:01 am
Sorry I’m late to the party on this article. Great work Christian.