By CINDY CROSBY
Cindyc4@yahoo.com
The University of South Carolina Salkehatchie men’s basketball program will begin the search for a men’s head basketball coach following the resignation of Glen Mayo effective Tuesday November 30, 2021.
When reached for comment, Coach Glen Mayo stated the following:
“I would like to thank former USC Salkehatchie Athletic Director Jane Brewer and former Dean Ann Carmichael for allowing me the opportunity to work at USC Salkehatchie. This past five years we have been able to accomplish a ton of great things together. The Walterboro community has accepted me as part of their family, and I have made friends here that will last a lifetime. It is with a heavy heart that I announce today I have resigned my position as the head men’s basketball coach of USC Salkehatchie. I will be transitioning into a scouting director/event operator role for a well-known company. I would like to wish my former assistant, Coach Matthew Bennett, and my players, all the best going forward. I know they will continue to accomplish great things.”
Mayo took over the NJCAA D1 men’s basketball program in April 2020 and led the team to an 8-10 overall record and 4-6 in finish in Region X during the 2020-21 season. In the current 2021-22 season under Mayo’s leadership, the Indians are 5-2 and have a four-game win streak. Earlier this season, the Indians earned a win over No. 3 ranked Chipola and a highly ranked Gulf Coast team Tallahassee Community College.
Across his collegiate coaching career, Mayo, at 30-years old, accumulated 45 wins and is credited for being the first coach of the women’s basketball program at USC Salkehatchie. In his two seasons as the women’s head coach, Mayo recorded back-to-back NJCAA DII Region X Tournament appearances and led the team to a top-25 nationally ranked status where they would rise to No. 13. During his time at Salkehatchie, Mayo helped eight collegiate athletes transfer to four-year Division I programs on full athletic scholarships and another 15-plus went on to play at NCAA DI or D2 schools.
A Press Release from the University of South Carolina Salkehatchie dated November 30, 2021, provided by Stephanie Gruber, Coordinator of Communication and Marketing, stated the following:
Coach Matthew Bennett has been named interim men’s basketball coach for USC Salkehatchie following the departure of Coach Glen Mayo. Coach Mayo recently resigned his position to pursue opportunities in scouting.
“We are excited that Coach Bennett will be leading the men’s basketball team for the remainder of the 2021-22 season. He has a passion for basketball and mentoring young adults. He has served as an assistant coach at USC Salkehatchie since 2019, and the team already has a connection with him. We are confident the transition will go smoothly,” said Jeremy Joye, Director of Athletics.”
Tuesday’s Press Release went on to say:
Coach Bennett started his coaching career as an assistant at his alma mater, Colleton County High School. After his time at CCHS, he was named head coach at Branchville High School in Branchville, S.C. This was a dream job for Coach Bennett as he always wanted to build his own high school basketball program. While there, Coach Bennett rebuilt the culture of the program, teaching his team how to fight through adversity and win.
Bennett is known throughout the Lowcountry for training multiple professional and collegiate athletes, and he has developed strong ties with prospective athletes throughout the state. Coach Bennett is excited to bring his passion and work ethic to the college level and help USC Salkehatchie continue to strive for greatness on and off the court.
According to the University of South Carolina Salkehatchie a search for the new coach will begin immediately.
