CONTRIBUTED BY ETSU

 

JOHNSON CITY — East Tennessee State University Athletic Director Scott Carter confirmed on Thursday that Steve Forbes has been named the new men’s basketball head coach at Wake Forest University. Carter also announced that Jason Shay has been named ETSU’s interim head coach.

 

“ETSU is very proud of Coach Steve Forbes and his historic work for our basketball program,” said Carter. “Championship culture at ETSU was restored under his leadership and I particularly want to thank him for the outstanding young men he has recruited to ETSU that have represented our university with character and dedication.

“We will all miss Steve, Johnetta, and the entire Forbes family and wish them happiness in Winston-Salem.”

 

Forbes, who spent the last five seasons as the head coach at ETSU, compiled an overall record of 130-43 (.751) and directed the Buccaneers to four Southern Conference championships and two NCAA Tournament appearances.

This past season, Forbes led the Bucs to a program-record 30 wins en route to capturing both the SoCon regular season and tournament titles. The 130 wins are the most over a five-year run in program history, while ranking 15th nationally since the start of the 2015-16 season.

 

“Following the successful season of our men’s basketball program, that was unfortunately cut short, it is not surprising that Steve Forbes would rise to the top of the search and ultimately be named head coach for Wake Forest,” said ETSU President Brian Noland.

“His selection speaks to the caliber of East Tennessee State University as one of the top mid-major programs in the nation. I have enjoyed watching Coach Forbes lead the ETSU men’s basketball program for the last five years and wish he and his family the best during this transition.”

Coach Shay takes over as the interim head coach after spending the last five seasons as an assistant at ETSU.

A national search for the Bucs’ new head coach will begin immediately.