NC State assistant Takayo Siddle hired as head coach at UNC Wilmington

Takayo Siddle, who has spent the last six years as an assistant under Kevin Keatts at NC State and UNCW, is returning to Wilmington to be the Seahawks’ next head coach. This is the first head coaching opportunity for Siddle, a native of Eden, NC who played his college ball at Gardner-Webb.

Siddle’s name was one we were on from the get-go, as his state and school connections made him a logical candidate. His three years with Keatts at UNCW were incredibly successful, with the Seahawks winning three-straight CAA titles and going to two NCAA Tournaments and one NIT.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Takayo back to UNCW and the Wilmington community,” AD Jimmy Bass said in a statement. “He’s been successful everywhere he’s been and we’re confident he will get our program back to the level our student-athletes, alumni, fans and community are accustomed to. He already has two CAA tournament championship rings, so there’s plenty of room for more.”

Things have been very different over the past three years at UNCW, with the team winning just 31 games in total and finishing no better than a tie for 6th in the CAA. Siddle inherits a roster that could return all five leading scorers from 2019-20, including CAA All-Rookie guard Shykeim Phillips.

Meanwhile in Wilmington, members of UNCW men’s team have self-quarantined after it was confirmed that one of the officials at their final CAA Tournament game had tested positive for COVID-19. A introductory press conference for Siddle will be scheduled at a later date, per the school.

“This is – and has always been – a dream job for me,” Siddle said. “I can’t begin to tell everyone how excited I am.”

credit to Nick Faulkner/247Sports for the photo