Austin Claunch, formerly an assistant coach for the Alabama Crimson Tide men’s basketball team, has been appointed as the head coach of the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) Roadrunners men’s basketball program. UTSA Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics, Lisa Campos, announced the hiring on March 17, 2024, marking Claunch as the seventh head coach in the program’s history.
Claunch’s coaching journey is notable for his rapid ascent through the collegiate ranks. After playing college basketball at Emory University, where he was a three-time First Team All-University Athletic Association selection and the school’s all-time assists leader, Claunch began his coaching career as the director of player development at George Mason University during the 2012–13 season. He then served as a graduate assistant and later as assistant video services director at Clemson University from 2013 to 2016.
In 2016, Claunch joined Nicholls State University as an assistant coach under Richie Riley. Two years later, at the age of 28, he was promoted to head coach, becoming the youngest head coach in NCAA Division I men’s basketball at the time. During his five-season tenure at Nicholls, Claunch led the Colonels to two Southland Conference regular-season championships in 2021 and 2022, earning the Southland Conference Coach of the Year award in 2021.
In April 2023, Claunch joined Nate Oats’ staff at the University of Alabama as an assistant coach. His hiring at UTSA marks the fourth instance of an Alabama assistant coach securing a head coaching position, following the departures of Bryan Hodgson (Arkansas State), Antoine Pettway (Kennesaw State), and Charlie Henry (Georgia Southern).
UTSA’s decision to hire Claunch reflects the university’s commitment to revitalizing its men’s basketball program. With his proven track record of success and experience in both head coaching and assistant roles, Claunch is poised to lead the Roadrunners into a new era of competitiveness within the American Athletic Conference.
