HACKENSACK, N.J. - Newly-appointed FDU men's basketball head coach Jack Castleberry announced Thursday his coaching staff for the 2023-24 campaign. Joining the Knights are Josh Hayes and Tom Kiely, while current graduate assistant and former student-athlete Mike Holloway Jr. will be elevated to assistant coach.

"I am ecstatic about the coaches we were able to attract to the program," remarked Castelberry. "They will have an immediate impact & help us continue FDU basketball's tradition of excellence."

No stranger to Castleberry, Hayes reunites with his one-time former colleague after spending two seasons alongside the ninth head coach in FDU program history at The Citadel. With the Bulldogs, Hayes helped complete the second-largest Division I win turnaround as The Citadel posted a year-over-year win increase of seven from 2019-20 to 2020-21. Helping continue the hot hands of the Bulldogs' three-point shooting, Hayes' two squads led all of Division I in behind the arc shooting in five-straight campaigns.

Prior to arriving in Charleston, S.C., Hayes spent a pair of seasons at Barton, assisting the Division II side to a 20-win season in and a top-10 squad in points, assists and field goal percentage. Most recently, Hayes comes to FDU from Army West Point having spent the last campaign with the Black Knights, developing Patriot League Rookie of the Year Ethan Roberts. Hayes also had great success in the interscholastic ranks, including becoming a head coach at the age of 25 in section 4A, the largest classification of high schools in North Carolina.

He graduated from from Fintchberg State with a Bachelor's in Interdisciplinary Studies cum laude before completing his Master's in Coaching & Athletic Administration Event & Tourism Management at Liberty. Hayes continued his basketball career overseas, playing in Turkey before transitioning to coaching.

"There aren't many people in the business that I respect more than Jack Castleberry," said Hayes. "To be able to serve under him at a program that is on the heels of a historic NCAA tournament run is truly a humbling opportunity. I'm excited to pour into the student-athletes and do my part to help push this program to even greater heights."

"I had the privilege of working with Josh at The Citadel," said Castleberry. "He is an exceptional coach whose skillset will positively affect every part of our program. He's an outstanding recruiter and a wizard with player development. His cares deeply about the players he coaches and forms bonds that transcend their time on our campus."

Continuing to fill the ranks on the banks of the Hackensack, Castleberry turns to Kiely, a 2018 graduate of Seton Hall with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. A four-year manager at The Hall, Kiely left South Orange as the Pirates' head manager. Moving from the Hall to Castleberry's alma mater VMI, Kiely served as the Keydets Director of Basketball Operations for four seasons.

During his time at VMI, the program experienced great success, including the team's first appearance in the SoCon tournament semifinal since 2013. Furthering their postseason prowess, VMI earned a slot in the 2022 College Basketball Insider Tournament, the team's first postseason tournament appearance since 2014. With marked statistical improvement year-over-year, Kiely was instrumental in scouting reports and statistics, video coordination and was instrumental in the recruitment and development of six All-SoCon selections and four conference All-Rookie Team honorees.

Kiely joins the Knights from Chattanooga where he served in the Director of Operations role for the Mocs this past season and the program advanced to the SoCon title game.

"I am very grateful to join Coach Castleberry's staff at FDU. He is a great person, coach and leader," remarked Kiely. "It has been a dream of mine to be a Division I assistant for a longtime and I am excited for this opportunity. I am looking forward to building on the big things that have been done here at FDU. Go Knights!"

Castleberry added, "Tom Kiely is a workhorse. There is no task too small for Tom and there's no detail he hasn't thought of. Those who have worked with Tom absolutely rave about him. I've respected him from afar for years and I'm thrilled to get to work with him daily here at FDU."

Spending four remarkable seasons, including two Northeast Conference championships (2016, 2019), on the banks of the Hackensack, current graduate assistant Mike Holloway Jr. will move up a seat on the bench as the Knights legend sits as an assistant coach next season. Holloway was instrumental in working with the Knights' bigs under head coach Tobin Anderson and played a key role in player development over the past two seasons. Assisting with coordinating recruiting efforts and high school relations, one of the all-time FDU greats continues his second stint at FDU as a three-time NCAA tournament participant and will further grow the program under Castleberry's tutelage in his new role.

"I am truly grateful and honored to continue my coaching career here at FDU," said Holloway. "Starting as a player, to then become the graduate assistant and now elevating to an assistant coach, is really a blessing. Thank you [head coach] Jack Castleberry for believing in me and making me a part of your staff so we can continue to grow and build a successful program here at FDU. It really is home."

"Mike Holloway is the embodiment of FDU basketball," exclaimed Castleberry. "He's a phenomenal human being and a proud FDU alum. He loves our University and this team and knows what it takes to win at a high level. He's a natural on the court and will be fantastic in his new role on our staff."

Connect with FDU men's basketball on Twitter and Instagram, @FDUKnightsMBB.
 

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