Custom Search ORANGEBURG, SC – South Carolina State men’s basketball coach Murray Garvin has announced the promotion of assistant Rio Pitt to associate head coach.
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Pitt, who is entering his sixth season as a member of the S.C. State basketball staff, will -- among other duties -- coordinate recruiting and academics for the Bulldogs and be responsible for developing the S.C. State post players along with on-the-floor coaching duties.
“Coach Pitt is one of the brightest young coaches that I have had the pleasure to work with over the span of my career on the collegiate level,” said Garvin. “He is hard-working and has demonstrated the characteristics that will one day allow him to run his own program as a head coach.”
Garvin noted, “With the recent departure of Coach Ken Spencer to Fayetteville State University, many wondered who would replace him as my right hand guy. I never had that concern as Rio has demonstrated over the years that he is ready for the responsibility of being second in command.”
“I’m elated and tremendously grateful for the opportunity to be selected by Coach Garvin as his associate head coach. It’s very humbling and I will continue to be a sponge and absorb as much as I can while under his tutelage,” said Pitt.
A former Bulldog standout during his Bulldog career (2009-11), Pitt became one of the top solid defenders on the team, leading the Bulldogs in shooting percentage from the floor with .590% accuracy. He was also the team leader in blocks with 27.
He also served on various campus organizations, including president of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), representing all student-athletes at SC State.
Pitt received several opportunities to play professional basketball abroad, but he turned those offers down in order to pursue a coaching career on the Division I level.
Pitt earned his bachelor’s degree in sociology from S.C. State in 2011, currently resides in Orangeburg, SC, and is a member of several professional and civic organizations, including the Black Coaches Association (BCA) and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.