ELON, N.C. – Elon University head men’s basketball coach Matt Matheny announced three staff promotions today, Sept. 1. Jack Wooten and Monty Sanders have been elevated to Elon’s top two assistant coaches, respectively. Former director of operations Chris Long has been promoted to assistant coach, as well.
All three assistant coaches will have increased responsibilities in recruiting, scouting and scheduling for the Phoenix program, as Elon enters its inaugural season in the Colonial Athletic Association.
“We’re excited about the increased responsibilities of Jack, Monty and Chris,” Matheny said. “All three guys have played a key role in the growth of our program and their energy and hard work will be very important as we enter our first season in the CAA.”
The 2014-15 season marks Wooten’s fifth year as an assistant coach at Elon. Wooten began his career as the team’s director of operations and was promoted to assistant coach after one season. A native of Burlington, N.C., Wooten has played a key role in the success of the Phoenix men’s basketball program over the last five years. Last year’s senior class won a total of 68 games, marking the most victories by a senior class during the school’s Division I era. Elon made its first postseason appearance at the Division I level in 2012-13 as well, as the Phoenix finished with 21 wins en route to the Southern Conference North Division title. Wooten is a 2009 graduate of the University of North Carolina, where he helped the Tar Heels to a national title as a senior. Elected Phi Beta Kappa as a senior, Wooten graduated from UNC in 2009 with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science.
Last season marked Sanders’ first season as an assistant coach after he served as the team’s director of operations from 2010-12. Last season, Sanders helped Elon to an 18-14 record, including an 11-5 mark against league competition. Sanders was a two-year letterwinner on the Elon men’s basketball team, serving as a team captain his senior season in 2008-09. Sanders scored a career-high 21 points while adding nine rebounds in a 2009 Southern Conference Tournament victory over Wofford his senior season. Sanders graduated from Elon in 2009 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a Concentration in Marketing.
Long was named Elon’s basketball director of operations last season after he spent two years abroad playing professional basketball in Poland and Romania. Long ended his playing career at Elon ranked near the top of the charts in several categories. His 528 career assists are good for second in program history, as he ranked in the top-20 nationally in assists as a senior in 2010-11. Long earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Elon in 2011.