Chris Mack, one of just 19 coaches in college basketball history to lead their team to a No. 1 ranking within the first two years at their school, has agreed to a five-year contract as the new men's basketball head coach at the College of Charleston, Director of Athletics Matt Roberts announced Tuesday.
"We are excited to add Chris, his wife Christie, and their children to the College of Charleston family. Charleston men's basketball has a tradition of competitive excellence spanning well over five decades," said Roberts. "When looking for our next leader, we focused on attracting an individual that is a proven winner and shares our vision of championship basketball. Chris Mack will undoubtedly continue the high-level of success that our students, alumni, donors, and community deserve."
Mack, whose teams have participated in the NCAA Tournament in nine of his 12 seasons as a head coach, returns to coaching collegiate basketball after a two-year hiatus. His 259 victories were the 12th most amassed by a coach in their first 11 seasons.
"We are excited to have such a high-level talent step in and lead our storied men's basketball program," said College of Charleston President Andrew Hsu. "I know Coach Mack will find success here, carrying on the winning traditions of Coaches John Kresse, Bobby Cremins, Earl Grant and Pat Kelsey."
The Cincinnati native becomes the 8th head coach in the program's Division I history.
"I can't tell you how excited I am to be the next men's basketball head coach at the College of Charleston. "I'm more motivated than any coach in the country, and Cougar Nation is going to get my absolute best," said Mack. "Thank you to President Hsu and Matt Roberts The excitement for me was felt in the very first phone call. I'm humbled and honored to be your coach."
Mack guided Louisville to a 24-7 record and a 15-5 ACC mark in 2019-2020. It was the best overall record through 31 games for a Louisville team in six years and marked the most conference victories for the Cardinals in their six years in the ACC. The Cards achieved a Top 15 ranking throughout the season, including two weeks as the nation's top-ranked team in the AP and USA Today polls.
In his first season at Louisville, Mack guided the Cardinals to a 20-14 record and earned a No. 7 seed in the NCAA Tournament while facing the nation's fourth-toughest schedule. Picked to finish 11th in the ACC, Louisville achieved a 10-8 conference record and earned a tie for sixth in the final regular season standings. The Cardinals beat four Associated Press Top 25 teams and were No. 22 in the nation in the NCAA's NET rankings. Louisville ranked among the nation's top 30 teams in both offensive (27th) and defensive efficiency (24th).
Before joining Louisville, Mack spent nine seasons as the head coach at Xavier, guiding the Musketeers to a 215-97 record and eight NCAA Tournament appearances, including reaching the Sweet 16 on four occasions and the Elite Eight in 2017. His teams won or shared three conference regular season championships while compiling a 105-49 league record over nine seasons in the Big East and Atlantic 10.
His 2017-18 squad achieved a 29-6 record, won Xavier's first Big East Conference regular season championship, and earned the school's first-ever No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Mack was honored as the 2018 Big East Coach of the Year, NABC District 5 Coach of the Year, and became the all-time coaching wins leader with the Musketeers.
His 2016-17 Xavier team made an NCAA Tournament run to the Elite Eight after earning a No. 11 seed. His teams have reached the NCAA Sweet 16 on four occasions, in 2010, 2012, 2015 and 2017. As a player, assistant and head coach, Mack has been a part of 19 NCAA Tournament appearances.
Mack was the 2010-11 Atlantic 10 Conference Coach of the Year in his second year as a head coach. In addition, he was the recipient of the 2011 Skip Prosser Man of the Year award, which was established in 2008 to honor those who not only achieve success on the basketball court, but who display moral integrity off the court as well.
He was the 2009-10 Basketball Times Rookie Coach of the Year and guided Xavier to a 26-9 record, shared the Atlantic 10 Championship and advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16.
Before becoming a head coach, Mack was a part of successful staffs throughout his career. He spent five seasons as an assistant on Sean Miller's Xavier staff (2004-09) after serving on the staff of the late Skip Prosser at Xavier as director of basketball operations (1999-01) and as an assistant coach at Wake Forest (2001-04).
In 10 seasons as an assistant or operations director, he helped his teams produce a 229-96 record (.705), win four regular season titles and one conference tournament championship, and secure eight NCAA Tournament appearances, advancing to three Sweet 16s and one Elite Eight.
A 1992 Xavier graduate with a degree in communication arts, Mack was a two-time team captain as a player at Xavier under then head coach Pete Gillen.
Mack and his wife, Christi, have three children: Lainee, Hailee and Brayden.
