ORANGEBURG, SC – South Carolina State head men's basketball coach Murray Garvin announced the promotion of assistant Rio Pitt to associate head coach.

Pitt, who is entering his sixth season as a member of the SC State basketball staff, will -- among other duties – serve as the Director of Bulldog Basketball Camps, along with coordinating all scouting assignments for opponents, while overseeing travel for the men's basketball program.
 
"Coach Pitt is one of the brightest young coaches that I have had the pleasure to work with over the span of my career on the collegiate level," said Garvin.  "He is hard-working and has demonstrated the characteristics that will one day allow him to run his own program as a head coach. Coach Pitt has been here in difficult circumstances and helped lead this program back to a winning season and  unprecedented success in the classroom. I wanted to reward Rio for his hardwork and loyalty to SC State and our basketball program."

 Garvin noted, "With the recent departure of Coach Ken Spencer to Fayetteville State University, many wondered who would replace him as my right hand guy.  I never had that concern as Rio has demonstrated over the years that he is ready for the responsibility of being second in command." 

"I'm elated and tremendously grateful for the opportunity to be selected by Coach Garvin as his associate head coach. It's very humbling and I will continue to be a sponge and absorb as much as I can while under his tutelage," said Pitt.

A former Bulldog standout during his Bulldog career (2009-11), Pitt became one of the top solid defenders on the team, leading the Bulldogs in shooting percentage from the floor with .590% accuracy. He was also the team leader in blocks with 27 in (that season).

He also served on various campus organizations, including president of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), representing all student-athletes at SC State.
 
Pitt received several opportunities to play professional basketball abroad, however, he turned those offers down in order to pursue a coaching career on the Division I level here at his Alma mater. 

 A native or Toronto, Ontario, Pitt was raised in Brooklyn, NY from age six. He is the son of Dana McCarty & Richard Pitt and has two brothers, Shiloh & Ishaq Pitt.
 
Pitt earned his bachelor's degree in sociology from SC State in 2011, and currently resides in Orangeburg, SC, and is a member of several professional and civic organizations, including the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.