A press conference was held at Southwest Mississippi Community College Tuesday to formally introduce Thomas Gray as the next head coach for the men’s basketball team. Gray succeeds Casey Carter who stepped down to enter private business.

Gray is no stranger to Southwest basketball fans, having served as Carter’s assistant for three years before leaving for a brief stint as an assistant at the University of Tennessee-Martin.

Gray said he chose to pursue the Southwest job because “Southwest is a place that is dear to my heart. I enjoyed my time (here) as an assistant and when the opportunity to come back presented itself, being familiar with the situation, community and league, it just seemed like a ‘no brainer.” He said the job gives him a chance to come back and be with players that he and Carter had recruited for two years and that “it was a situation that excited me.”

Asked what he learned from Carter that would enable him to do well as the head coach, Gray said that he probably could not list everything. But, chief among what he learned was how to be a “Godly leader, how to lead the guys not only in basketball, but in the game of life and instill discipline-not only in practice, but in academics and in the dorms and in life outside of basketball.” Gray said Carter was “great and commanded attention and led the guys in a positive manner. That translated over to their play on the court.”

Gray said he received advice from Carter on what was needed to assure an orderly transition “from his regime to a new regime”, but that there would not be much of a transition other than a few added responsibilities.

The first thing on his agenda as head coach, Gray said, is to hire an assistant. He said he wanted someone “who shares my beliefs, my morals, my direction and can second everything I say and do on the court.” He said he had “been very blessed to have a lot of very qualified people call and want to come in (to Southwest). They understand the special thing that is Southwest and what a great league it (the MACJC) is and what a great experience it could be.”

Because Gray will have only one assistant, Gray said that person “has to be very versatile and be able to handle a lot of different things. I’m definitely looking for a very intelligent, capable coach who has experience at the Division 1 level or a head coaching background.” Gray said he hoped to be able to name a coach within the next few weeks.

Taking an early look at next season, Gray said he has “two of the top returnees in the league in Jaylen Moore (5′ 11″, 178, G-Harrison Central) and Xavion Dillon (6′ 7″, 205, F-Tylertown). We also have Justin McCray (6′ 5 1/2″, 196, G-Ridgeland) coming back. (McCray) gave us a lot of great minutes (last season).”

“We also have a really good group of freshmen from within the state,” Gray went on, “that includes Lafayette Rutledge (6′, 162, G-Gautier High School), Shemar Williams (6′ 2″, 185, G-Picayune High School) Christien McIntosh (6′ 3″, 180, G-Murrah High School, Jackson), LeDerrius Simmons (5′ 7″, 140, G-McComb High School) and Derrick Tompkins (6’ 2″, 195, G-Wayne County High School).” Gray also named Gulfport’s Eddie Lee, a forward who signed with the Bears in 2013 but redshirted last season.

“Now,” he said, “We have to go and fill our out-of-state spots. We don’t have any of those filled at this time. We have a lot of different candidates, but we’re just trying to sort out who best fits our culture here in the basketball realm of Southwest and the community aspect. We want guys who will come in and be the best representatives for Southwest and this basketball program.”

Gray said the main thing he wanted as a head coach is “a disciplined program” on the court and off. He said fans will see a team that is “very detailed out on the court, but also in the classroom, community and dorm. You’re going to see a group of guys who are disciplined and fun to watch. We’re going to play an up-tempo, exciting brand of basketball.”

“We’re going to be up in your face defensively,” Gray continued. “We’re going to be pressuring the ball (and) we’re going to make offenses come in here and take tough shots and we’re going to get out and run.”