Former Big Ten cager named to assistant FMU hoops post

Francis Marion University men's basketball head coach Gary Edwards has announced that former Big Ten player and Racine, Wis., native Sharif Chambliss has joined his staff as an assistant coach.

Chambliss replaces Jonathan Holmes who left FMU to accept an assistant's position at the College of William and Mary.

Chambliss' primary responsibilities will include recruiting, on-floor coaching, individual player workouts, pre- and post-season workouts and helping in the area of academic support for team members.

He comes to FMU after two seasons on the basketball staff at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

Chambliss earned the B.S. degree in life science communications from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2005.  As a senior, he was a starting guard on a 25-9 Badger squad that reached the NCAA Tournament's round of Elite Eight.  He averaged 7.5 points and a team-leading 2.8 assists per game, while leading the squad in three-point field goals made.

He started his playing career at Penn State University, where he played three seasons before transferring to Wisconsin.  While in University Park, he twice earned honorable mention All-Big Ten honors (in 2002 and 2003).  As a freshman, he appeared in 23 games for a 21-12 nationally ranked Nittany Lions squad that reached the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament.  That Penn State squad defeated a UNC team that listed Holmes on its roster in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

Chambliss is a former first-team All-State performer at St. Catherine's High School in Racine.

Following his graduation from Wisconsin, he played one season of professional basketball in Portugal.

"I am very excited to have Sharif join our program," Edwards said.  "He has a great background, having played in Bo Ryan's system at Wisconsin.  His knowledge and understanding of that system will be an asset to us.  Also as a person, Sharif will be a great addition to FMU and the Florence community."

Francis Marion returns seven lettermen from last year's 12-16 squad.