Scott Padgett named head coach of Samford University
By Chris Walder
According to a report by ESPN.com, Samford University is expected to part ways with head coach Bennie Seltzer after two seasons on the job, replacing him with assistant Scott Padgett.
Jeff Goodman of ESPN Insider confirmed on Twitter that Padgett would be Seltzer’s replacement.
Former Kentucky forward Scott Padgett has been elevated to Samford head coach following firing of Bennie Seltzer. Padgett was an assistant.
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) June 6, 2014
The Samford Bulldogs went 24-31 with Seltzer on the sidelines, with 14 players leaving via transfer during that span. He had worked as an assistant in Oklahoma, Indiana and Marquette before coming to Samford.
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Padgett released a statement through SamfordSports.com, expressing his gratitude and how he plans to run the team moving forward.
"I’m very excited to have the opportunity to be the head coach at Samford University and to coach these outstanding young men. This program is going to be all about our players; former, current and future. It’s going to be about promoting the mission of this great university and helping these young men in their academic, athletic and spiritual growth.We’re going to play an exciting brand of basketball here at Samford, similar to the style I played under Rick Pitino and Tubby Smith at the University of Kentucky. We are going to press, get up and down the court for 40 minutes and wear down the opposition. It’s going to be a playing style that recruits, current players and fans will love."
Padgett will be the 28th coach in the history of the school’s basketball program. He spent eight seasons in the NBA after being drafted with the No. 28 pick in the 1999 NBA draft by the Utah Jazz.