Clark Names Assistant Coaches

Aug. 11, 2000

Coral Gables, FL – University of Miami men’s basketball coach Perry Clark completed his coaching staff today with the naming of Dwight Freeman, Greg Gary and Brock Kantrow as assistant basketball coaches.

Freeman, 41, remains at Miami for his sixth season with the Hurricanes. Freeman spent the last five seasons as an assistant to Leonard Hamilton, who left UM earlier this summer to become head coach of the NBA’s Washington Wizards.

In his five seasons at Miami, Freeman helped lead the Hurricanes to five straight winning seasons and NCAA Tournament appearances in each of the last three seasons. Last season the Miami posted a 23-11 record, captured its first BIG EAST regular season championship and advanced to the Sweet Sixteen in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history.

“I felt it was important to have some continuity because of the success the program has had over the past few years,” said Clark. “Dwight has done a tremendous job of maintaining the enthusiasm of the returning players while making my transition a lot easier.”

Gary, 30, comes to Miami after spending the previous two seasons as an assistant to Clark at Tulane. Last season Gary helped guide the Green Wave to a 20-11 record, the Conference USA National Division crown and a trip National Invitational Tournament.

“Greg understands my defensive scheme better than anyone else,” said Clark. “His enthusiasm and personal touch also make him a tremendous recruiter.”

Overall, Gary has worked a total of six seasons with Clark having also served as an assistant at Tulane from 1993-97. In his first stint with Clark, Gary helped lead the Green Wave to four postseason appearances, three 20-win seasons and an Associated Press Top-25 ranking.

Gary, a three-year letterman at Tulane from 1989-92, spent the 1997-98 season as an assistant coach at McNeese State.

Kantrow, 30, also comes to Miami from Tulane where he served as an administrative assistant in the Green Wave basketball office from 1997-99 before being promoted to assistant coach last season.

“Brock does a great job in terms of individual player development,” said Clark. “He is a great teacher who really understands what I like to run offensively.”

Prior to his stint at Tulane, Kantrow was a successful high school coach in Shreveport, Louisiana. As the head basketball coach at Loyola College Prep from 1993-97, Kantrow posted a career record of 73-35 (.676), won two district championships and was twice named District Coach of the Year.