ORANGEBURG, SC—South Carolina State head men's basketball coach Erik Martin has announced the promotion of Raheem Waller to Associate Head Coach.

" I want to thank Coach Martin for placing his trust in me and allowing me to serve as Associate Head Coach", said Waller. "This promotion is truly an honor, and I look forward to serving, guiding, and mentoring our student-athletes while instilling in them the values, pride, and Bulldog tenacity that define our rich tradition."

Waller entering his 3rd season on the Bulldog coaching staff played a key role in the team's success last season, capturing their first MEAC Men's Basketball Regular Season in 22 years, finishing with an 20-13 overall record.

He returned for a second stint at South Carolina State after serving as the Director of Player Development at Alabama State University from 2022-23.

Waller's collegiate coaching career includes stops at the Junior College, Division I and Division II levels. He began his coaching journey with a one-year stint at Elizabeth City State University in 2004-05. He also made stops at Chipola College, University of West Georgia, Georgia State University, Coastal Carolina, as well as Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) schools Florida A&M University, Maryland Eastern Shore and Savannah State.
 
The South Carolina State alum served on the staffs of former national coaches of the year including Cliff Ellis (Coastal Carolina) and Rod Barnes (Georgia State). 
  
During the 2013-14 season, help guide Chipola College to an 26-6 record, while advancing to the Panhandle Conference Championship, NJCAA Region VIII/FCSAA Championship, making an Elite Eight appearance at the NJCAA National Tournament. The Indians' team featured the top junior college player in the country in Cinmeon Bowers. All five starting sophomores from the 2013-14 team signed NCAA Division I scholarships: Bowers (Auburn), Sam Cassell, Jr. (UConn), Torian Graham (Houston), Carlos Morris (Minnesota), and Demetrious Floyd (Stephen F. Austin). 
 
Waller also spent three seasons as head coach at Buford High School in South Carolina, where he coached his teams to two playoff appearances and earned Region Coach of the Year honors. 
 
Prior to beginning his coaching career, Waller embarked on a professional career in the International Basketball League (IBL), United States Basketball League (USBL) and several leagues around the world.
  
A former standout and team captain at South Carolina State University. He earned all-conference and all-tournament honors while leading the Bulldogs to MEAC titles, along with NCAA Tournament appearances in 1996 and 1998. 
  
He earned his bachelor's degree in industrial technology from South Carolina State in 1999 and master's in Sport Management from American Public University in 2016. 
  
Waller is the proud father of twin sons, Jacob and Matthew. 

ABOUT SC STATE ATHLETICS
South Carolina State University is a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I level intercollegiate athletic program. The university currently fields teams in 14 sports: women's volleyball, men's and women's tennis, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's indoor track & field, softball, men's and women's outdoor track and field, women's soccer and football with all teams competing in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), except for women's soccer.
 
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