May 2, 2003
FAIRFAX, Va. - Former George Mason University men's basketball assistant Mike Gillian has been named the new men's basketball head coach at Division II Longwood University, Director of Athletics Rick Mazzuto announced Friday. Gillian, who had been an assistant with Patriot head coach Jim Larranaga for the past six seasons, becomes the seventh head coach in the 27-year history of the Lancers' men's basketball program. He had also worked under Larranaga for one season at Bowling Green State (Ohio) University (1996-97) prior to arriving at George Mason with Larranaga.
"I'm very excited and would like to thank President Cormier (Dr. Patricia P. Cormier) and Rick Mazzuto for this opportunity to become the head coach at Longwood," said Gillian. "It's been a goal of mine for a long time to be a head coach, and to do so at the highest level. At Longwood, I will be able to lead a program through its transition from Division II to Division I.
"The leadership and direction of the Division I transition plan at Longwood, as established by Dr. Cormier and Rick Mazzuto, is outstanding. Their unique insight and involvement make this move seem like a natural fit for me, and I look forward to the challenge ahead.
"I will certainly draw upon the experience of working with Jim Larranaga, and at George Mason University, to establish a successful Division I men's basketball tradition at Longwood."
During Gillian's six seasons as an assistant coach at Mason, the Patriots went 100-74 overall with a 66-34 Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) record, winning two CAA Tournament championships (1999, 2001) and two CAA regular season titles (1999, 2000). George Mason also earned two NCAA Tournament appearances (1999, 2001) and made one National Invitation Tournament (NIT) appearance (2002). The Patriots were 57-18 overall at home in the Patriot Center, posting a 41-8 CAA homecourt record. At Bowling Green, the Falcons finished 22-10 while winning the 1997 Mid-American Conference regular season title (13-5) and earning an NIT appearance.
"Mike brings an excellent Division I background to our University," explained Mazzuto. "He has worked with an outstanding head coach in Jim Larranaga and is ready to move the Longwood program forward."
"Mike was an instrumental part of George Mason's success over the past six years and his contributions to our program will be missed," stated George Mason head coach Jim Larranaga. "He has all of the necessary tools, both on and off the court, which will make him an excellent head coach. Longwood is fortunate to have such a well-respected and gifted communicator and educator to head its men's basketball program. There is no doubt that Mike will work well with the Longwood community, alumni, and administration, and that he will operate his program in a first-class manner."
Prior to joining Larranaga at BGSU, Gillian was an assistant coach at Division II American International (Mass.) from 1989-95. During that six-year stint, the Yellow Jackets went 117-58 overall with a 75-33 Northeast-10 Conference (NE-10) record, winning both the NE-10 regular season and Tournament championships in 1994 (26-6). American International also advanced to the second-round of the Division II Tournament that year.
George Mason has not yet announced its plans on how it will fill Gillian's position.
