University of Evansville basketball coach Marty Simmons announced today (9-22-10) that Carson Harris has been promoted to assistant coach, and former Aces' standout Lucious Wagner has joined the staff as director of basketball operations. Harris's promotion and Wagner's return to UE came about after assistant coach Ben Wierzba was chosen earlier this month as head coach at the University of Illinois-Springfield.
Wagner was redshirted as a freshman at Evansville in 2000-01, and eventually became a three-year starter and team captain as a senior in 2004-05, when he led the Aces in scoring. He was chosen for the five-man MVC 'Most Improved' Team as a senior after raising his scoring average from 8.8 as a junior to 14.1 as a senior. Wagner was also an honorable mention choice on the MVC Scholar-Athlete Team. He went on to play one year in Holland, Finland and the Czech Republic, and split a season playing in Lebanan and Iceland. He and his wife, Sara, settled last year in Anderson, Ind., where Wagner began his own business, Wags Basketball & Fitness, LLC. The Wagners, who met while both were attending UE, have a two-year-old daughter, Sydney.
"We're very happy to have Lucious come back to UE," Simmons added. "He's a terrific young person. He will be a great role model and example for our players, having played here just a few years ago and then going on to play professionally. With his knowledge of the game and his personality, I really think Lucious is a bright young star."
Added Wagner, "As soon as I heard about the opportunity to come back to Evansville and work with Coach Simmons, I jumped at it. I've considered Evansville my home ever since I was a student here. I told Sara how great the campus looks, and how many changes have taken place in the community since we were in school. We're both excited to be coming back."
