Wright State names Sargent to replace Nagy as coach

Wright State associate head coach Clint Sargent will serve as the acting head coach for the second straight game Saturday vs. Green Bay. Jeff Gilbert/CONTRIBUTED

Wright State associate head coach Clint Sargent will serve as the acting head coach for the second straight game Saturday vs. Green Bay. Jeff Gilbert/CONTRIBUTED

FAIRBORN — Scott Nagy has been officially hired by Southern Illinois, and Wright State has named top assistant Clint Sargent as its new basketball coach.

Sargent has been on the Raiders’ staff since Nagy arrived in 2016, serving as associate head coach the last three seasons.

He will meet with the media Friday at 2 p.m. at the Setzer Pavilion. He’s the 10th coach in program history.

“I am extremely thankful for this opportunity to lead a program that has meant so much to me and my family,” Sargent said in a statement released by the school.

“To our current and former players, parents, coaches, fans and administrators, I am honored to serve you and continue to build a championship level program. The work has already begun and I can’t wait for what lies ahead!”

Sargent played for Nagy at South Dakota State and scored more than 1,500 points.

A two-time All-Summit League selection, Sargent began his coaching career with the Jackrabbits in 2013-14 as the team’s operations coordinator after playing professionally in Germany for two years.

He helped Nagy and the Raiders go 167-94 in eight years with two trips to the NCAA tournament. They also earned two NIT berths, including one in 2020 before the tournament was cancelled because of the pandemic.

Wright State won three Horizon League regular-season crowns and two tourney titles in that span.

“Clint Sargent is everything we look for in our head coaches,” interim athletics director Joylynn Brown said in a statement. “His passion, his character and his excitement to lead our student-athletes — along with his knowledge of our program and what it takes to win in the Horizon League — are all evident.

“Coach Sargent is an incredible individual, and there is no better role model for our student-athletes.”

Nagy was named the 15th men’s coach in the Southern Illinois history Thursday evening.

He has a career record of 577-332 (.635) in 29 years and ranks 18th in wins among active Division-I coaches.

He will be introduced to the media Friday at 1 p.m. at Southern Illinois’ Banterra Center.

“I’m extremely excited to welcome Coach Nagy to Saluki Nation,” athletics director Tim Leonard said in a statement. “His record speaks for itself. He is a winner in every sense of the word and will be a perfect fit for our program, the campus community and the region.”

Nagy replaces Bryan Mullins, who was fired after posting an 86-68 record over five years, including a 19-13 mark this season.

The Salukis, who play in the Missouri Valley Conference, went to the NCAA tourney six straight years from 2002-07, reaching the Sweet 16 in 2007. But they haven’t earned a tourney bid since then.

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