ORANGEBURG, SC South Carolina State, today (Friday), announced its new men’s
head basketball coach during a 3 p.m. news conference at the Walnut Room of
Washington Dining Hall on the campus.
Ben Betts
Benjamin “Ben” Betts Jr., a former Bulldog assistant coach, was introduced as the
successor to Cy Alexander, who resigned recently after 16 years as SCSU head coach to
accept a similar position at Tennessee State. Betts was presented by Oliver “Buddy”
Pough, interim athletics director and head football coach at the university.
It will be the first head coaching position for Betts, who was most recently an
assistant at Virginia Commonwealth. The Madison Heights, Virginia native takes over
the reins of a program that has been one of the most successful in historical Black
colleges and universities, and among the winningest in the Palmetto State over the past
decade and a half.
Betts was a part of that success as a graduate assistant and assistant coach for the
Bulldogs from 1990-97 under Alexander. He also served as SCSU interim head coach for
a short stint in 1995. During his eight-year tenure in Orangeburg, the Bulldogs compiled
an 84-60 record including a 22-8 mark in 1995-96 when they tied for the Mid-Eastern
Athletic Conference regular season crown, won the league tournament and a berth in the
NCAA playoffs.
In presenting Betts, Pough called the Madison Heights, Virginia native a dynamic
and knowledge coach who should be able to maintain the strength of the SCSU basketball
program.
“South Carolina State is elated that Coach Ben Betts has chosen to return to the
university as our next men’s head basketball coach,” Pough said. “We consider him a
dynamic coach and believe that the knowledge he has attained in Division I programs
will enable him to continue the success we have enjoyed here.
“He’s been a part of the tradition here,” continued Pough, “And, in that sense, its
enables us maintain some ties to the program.”
Pough said that terms of Betts’ agreement were still being negotiation.
After leaving SCSU, Betts spent five seasons as an assistant coach at the College
of Charleston under John Kress. As member of the Cougars’ staff (1997-2002), he helped
them to a combined 119-31 record, with two NCAA playoff appearances.
Betts just completed his first season as an assistant at Virginia Commonwealth
under Jeff Capel.
Betts, who is single, was a four-year letterman at Roanoke College, helping the
Maroons to the NCAA Division III playoffs in 1986-87. He earned a bachelor’s in
physical education from Roanoke in 1990, and a master’s in rehabilitation from SCSU in
1997.
