Bernie Coaxum enters his second season as an assistant coach for men's basketball at South Carolina State University.
Coaxum joined the Bulldog program after spending five seasons at Newberry College, where he coached multiple all-conference performers, as well as an NBCA All-Region honoree. He also assisted in leading the Wolves to multiple upset victories over top-five opponents and a trip to the South Atlantic Conference Tournament Semifinals in 2022.
Bernie also spent a season as assistant coach at Pfeiffer University (NC). During that time, Coaxum played an important role in helping the Falcons compile a 26-5 overall record while winning the Conference Carolinas regular season championship. In addition, the Falcons were ranked nationally in the NCAA Division II polls and received an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament.
As the Falcons “defensive coordinator”, Coaxum helped Pfeiffer finish the campaign ranked No. 1 in the country in forced turnovers; while also setting a program record for steals in a season (391) - which ranked 2nd nationally in NCAA Division II.
Prior to his time as a college coach, Coaxum spent two seasons as head coach at Coastal Christian Prep in Mount Pleasant, S.C. and another season in charge of Palmetto Scholars Academy in North Charleston, S.C.
His 2012 Coastal Christian team reached the South Carolina Independent Schools Athletics (SCISA) Class A state championship game and posted a 28-4 record. Coaxum was named SCISA Region IV Coach of the Year.
During his college career, he played one season at Anderson University for coach Doug Novak before transferring to Division I College of Charleston where he played for legendary Hall of Fame coach John Kresse.
While at College of Charleston, Coaxum was a member of the team that defeated the University of North Carolina and won the 2002 Great Alaska Shootout - with victories over Wyoming, Oklahoma State and Villanova. He was also part of the 2002-03 Cougars squad that finished with a 25-7 record and spent several weeks in the AP Top 25 before completing the campaign with a NIT Tournament postseason appearance.
A native of Mount Pleasant, S.C., Coaxum earned a B.A. degree in Corporate Communications from College of Charleston in 2004.
