Current South Carolina State men’s head basketball coach Murray Garvin will be on hand tonight’s for the 2019 Pikeville High School ESPY awards planned for the University of Pikeville campus.
The 1994 PHS alumnus will be recognized tonight with the 2019 Distinguished Alumni Award and then will be honored during a reception from 2 until 5 p.m. Saturday in the Hilton-Garden Inn lobby.
Tomorrow’s event is open to the general public.
He just completed his sixth season leading the Bulldogs and led the team to its best regular-season finish since 2005 with a 19-15 overall record, including a 12-4 mark in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC).
For his efforts, he earned several Coach of the Year honors, among those were MEAC Coach of the Year.
Prior to coming to South Carolina State, he served as an assistant coach at Winston-Salem State and was a previous assistant at Charleston Southern. Garvin was athletic director and head men’s basketball coach at Clinton Junior College in Rock Hill, S.C.
The former Panther earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education from Eastern Kentucky University in 1988. He is very active in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
The City of Pikeville honored him with a key to the city in 2018. He will also be on hand and honored during PHS’ graduation ceremony Sunday in the T.W. Oliver Memorial Gymnasium.