Wright State acts quickly in naming valuable, experienced assistant coach Clint Sargent as Men’s Basketball Head Coach

By Bert Leeson

Clint Sargent 2024 (courtesy WSU Athletics)

3 28 2029

 

DAYTON – Clint Sargent has been named the 10th men’s basketball head coach in program history at Wright State University.

Clint Sargent is everything we look for in our head coaches,” interim director of athletics Joylynn Brown said. “His passion, his character and his excitement to lead our student-athletes – along with his knowledge of our program and what it takes to win in the Horizon League – are all evident. Coach Sargent is an incredible individual and there is no better role model for our student-athletes.”

Sargent has been on the Wright State coaching staff since 2016, including serving as the associate head coach the last three seasons. He will be formally introduced to the media on Friday afternoon at 2 p.m. at the Mills Morgan Center/Setzer Pavilion.

“I am extremely thankful for this opportunity to lead a program that has meant so much to me and my family,” Sargent said. “To our current and former players, parents, coaches, fans, and administrators, I am honored to serve you and continue to build a championship level program. The work has already begun and I can’t wait for what lies ahead!”

Wright State University President Sue Edwards, Ph.D., applauded the appointment of Sargent to the top post.

“Clint reflects the values of our Raider Family,” Edwards added. “He demonstrates a passion for winning both on and off the court and exemplifies the Person First – Student Second – Athlete Third (PSA) culture that serves as the foundation of our Division of Athletics.”

Since Sargent’s arrival at Wright State ahead of the 2016-17 season, the Raiders have won a combined five Horizon League championships between regular season and tournament titles, including trips to the NCAA Tournament in 2018 and 2022. Wright State captured its first win in its NCAA Division I history in the 2022 tournament with a First Four victory over Bryant. Sargent has been heavily involved in the recruiting and development of Raider players during his time at Wright State. Wright State has had 26 all-Horizon League performers between all-conference, all-defensive and newcomer teams since 2016, in addition to former Raider Loudon Love’s back-to-back Horizon League Player of the Year seasons and current Raider Brandon Noel’s Freshman of the Year recognition following the 2022-23 campaign. The Raiders have also achieved in the classroom, with nine Horizon League all-academic team recognitions over the last eight seasons.

A standout player at South Dakota State, Sargent remains inside the top 10 in total points scored, three-pointers made, total starts and minutes played under former Wright State head coach Scott Nagy. A two-time All-Summit League Second Team selection, Sargent began his coaching career with South Dakota State head of the 2013-14 season as the team’s operations coordinator after playing professionally for two seasons with USC Heidelberg in the German ProA League.

Sargent takes over the reins of the Raider program from Scott Nagy, who exited after eight seasons and 167 wins, the second-most victories in Wright State history. A three-time Horizon League Coach of the Year, Nagy recorded 20 or more wins in five of his eight seasons at Wright State, with 18 wins in the three other seasons, including the COVID-shortened 2020-21 season.

COURTESY WRIGHT STATE ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS