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The beginning of a new era at Louisiana-Monroe began
on Monday, April 11, when the Indians hired Orlando
Early as the sixth men's basketball head coach in
the program's 54-year history.
Early came to ULM after spending the past four
seasons as an assistant coach with the Alabama
Crimson Tide. During his tenure at Alabama, the team
reached the NCAA Tournament in each season, won the
2002 Southeastern Conference regular season
championship and compiled a record of 88-41. Athlon
magazine ranked Early third nationally on its "Top
Assistant Coaches" list in its fall 2004-05
basketball issue.
"Orlando Early is a tremendous teacher of the game,"
Alabama head coach Mark Gottfried said. "He will get
everyone excited about ULM basketball from the
players to the community. He is going to be a star
in our profession."
Early began his coaching career in 1993 at his alma
mater, Gardner-Webb. After two seasons with the
Bulldogs, he took an assistant position at Western
Carolina. He was promoted from assistant to
associate head coach for the Catamounts in just his
second season. While at WCU, the team won the 1996
Southern Conference title and advanced to the NCAA
Tournament.
In 1998, Early took an assistant coaching position
with UNC-Charlotte. The 49ers advanced to the NCAA
Tournament in 1999 and 2001 and to the NIT in 2000
with Early on the staff. Charlotte also won the
Conference USA tournament championship in 1999 and
2001.
"Orlando Early is one of the brightest, young
coaches in America," 49er head coach Bobby Lutz
said. "Louisiana Monroe has made an unbelievably
accurate choice to lead their program. Everything
that he does on and off the court exudes
professionalism. There's no doubt that Orlando Early
is going to be a superstar in the world of coaching.
He's the total package."
Prior to beginning his coaching career, Early was a
four-year letterman at Gardner-Webb, playing point
guard and led the team to the 1988 NAIA District 26
title. In 1990, Early earned a degree in Accounting
from Gardner-Webb.
A native of Lebanon, Virginia, Early is married to
the former Jualeah Johnson. The couple has three
children, Nakita, 18, Storm, 14, and Erica, 10. |
