Report: South Carolina men's basketball filling vacancy with former Gamecocks assistant
The South Carolina men’s basketball staff is reportedly about to be complete again.
Gamecocks coach Lamont Paris is expected to fill his assistant coach vacancy with Loyola Chicago’s Will Bailey, according to Jon Rothstein.
The Chicago native was previously on Frank Martin’s staff at South Carolina for two seasons starting in 2020.
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Earlier on Monday, Paris spoke to the media and teased that a new hire could be coming soon, while discussing the timing and what he looks for when hiring an assistant.
“It’s been a good, thorough search,” Paris said. “Being completely transparent, we were in a situation where we didn’t need to rush it. We have commitments in the 2025 class and saw some kids this past weekend during live periods. The focus, even through July, is on 2025 kids. We have three kids committed and might take another, but it’s uncertain. Bringing someone in and hitting the ground running from a recruiting standpoint didn’t have the urgency we expected.
“We prioritized spending time with our guys, getting everything in order, and starting the summer off strong. We’ve made significant progress, and I anticipate announcing our direction soon. I value familiarity, teaching ability, hard work, and loyalty. I’m excited about this addition, which should happen very soon.”
Bailey is leaving for the Gamecocks after spending only one season at Loyola Chicago. He previously was on staff at Saint Louis.
Will Bailey has also previously worked at La Salle, East Tennessee State, Maine, Chicago State and UAB.
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He is joining a South Carolina program that is coming off of an excellent second season under Lamont Paris. The Gamecocks went 26-8 last season, reaching the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2017.
Bailey is set to replace former Carolina assistant Tim Buckley, who left for a spot on the Cincinnati coaching staff at the conclusion of the 2023-24 season.
On3’s Matt Connolly contributed to this report.
