ETSU men’s basketball head coach Steve Forbes has agreed to a deal to become the next head coach of the Wake Forest Demon Deacons, ETSU Athletic Director Scott Carter confirmed Thursday morning.
“ETSU is very proud of Coach Steve Forbes and his historic work for our basketball program,” said Carter, according to ETSUBucs.com. “We will all miss Steve, Johnetta and the entire Forbes family and wish them happiness in Winston-Salem.”
Forbes will be replacing former Demon Deacon head coach Danny Manning, who was relieved of his duties last week after six seasons.
Forbes had led the Buccaneers to a staggering 130-43 (.751) overall record since taking the helm at ETSU in March 2015.
Most recently, Forbes led the Bucs to a school-record 30-4 overall record in the 2019-2020 season. The Bucs went on to capture the Southern Conference regular season title, as well as win the SoCon Tournament.
ETSU President Brian Noland had only praise for the now-former Buccaneer coach.
“Following the successful season of our men’s basketball program, that was unfortunately cut short, it is not surprising that Steve Forbes would rise to the top of the search and ultimately be named head coach for Wake Forest,” said President Noland, according to ETSUBucs.com.
Under Forbes’ leadership, the Bucs clinched a berth to the NCAA Tournament, that was later cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, Forbes was named the Southern Conference Coach of the Year for the 2019-2020 season.
Forbes expressed great gratitude to the ETSU community in a statement, according to GoDeacs.com.
“Leaving ETSU was not an easy decision for me and for my family,” Forbes said. “I will be eternally grateful to President Dr. Brian Noland, the fans, and those student-athletes with whom I shared such special experiences. They have taught me so much and changed my life.”
ETSU’s Jason Shay has been announced as the Buccaneers’ interim head coach, after spending the past five seasons as an assistant coach. Meanwhile, a national search for the next permanent Bucs head coach is set to begin immediately.
