Charles Chigeru named assistant men’s basketball coach on Billy Begley’s EMCC staff

SCOOBA -- Florida native Charles Chigeru has been hired as assistant men's basketball coach at East Mississippi Community College, as announced this week by EMCC head men's basketball coach Billy Begley.

Chigeru, a seven-year coaching veteran in the university ranks, replaces former EMCC basketball All-America point guard DJ Evans, who was named the boys' head basketball coach at Kemper County High School this past June following a five-year coaching stint on the Scooba campus.

"I'm really excited about Charles joining our program because he is a high-character guy who brings great knowledge of the game and experience on the next level," Begley said. "He is a rising star in this business, and I am grateful to have him as part of the EMCC family."

Most recently, Chigeru spent time earlier this year as an assistant men's basketball coach at Nicholls State University on first-year head coach Tevon Saddler's staff. Last season, Chigeru served as a special assistant on Richie Riley's coaching staff at the University of South Alabama. Led by Sun Belt Conference Defensive Player of the Year and current international pro Kevin Samuel, the 2022-23 Jaguars were 19-16 overall and advanced to the championship game of the SBC Tournament.

"I am humbled, grateful, and excited for the opportunity to work alongside Coach (Billy) Begley, our student-athletes, and our administration here at EMCC," Chigeru said. "To God be all the glory for the great things He has done. I look forward to doing everything in my power to make the entire EMCC fan base proud of our men's basketball program."

Prior to his stops in Thibodaux, Louisiana and Mobile, Alabama, Chigeru earned valuable coaching experience during a five-year association with Coppin State University in Baltimore, Maryland. Following an initial season (2017-18) as CSU's director of basketball operations on Juan Dixon's coaching staff, Chigeru was elevated to an assistant coaching position that enabled him to become involved in all aspects of the Eagles' hoops program. His coaching stint at Coppin State was highlighted when the Eagles claimed a share of the 2020-21 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference's (MEAC) Northern Division regular-season championship with an 8-4 league mark. Individually for CSU that season, current second-year NBA G League player Anthony Tarke was named MEAC Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year prior to signing with the NBA's Detroit Pistons as an undrafted free agent. During Chigeru's final season on the CSU staff, the Eagles advanced to the championship game of the 2022 MEAC Tournament.

Chigeru's coaching career began with a one-year stop at St. Thomas University in Miami Gardens, Florida. As the lead assistant to head coach Patrick Gayle, the 2016-17 Bobcats went 20-9 overall and featured honorable mention NAIA All-American Raheem Bowman.

Having moved to the Sunshine State from his native Nigeria at the age of three with his mother, Chigeru was a three-year varsity letterman on the hardwood at North Miami Beach Senior High School in Florida, where he also ran cross country. He stayed close to home to earn his bachelor's degree in sports management from Barry University in Miami Shores. Chigeru helped lead head coach George "Butch" Estes' 2015-16 Buccaneers team to a school-record 26 wins and an NCAA Division II South Region championship. Along with making a second straight NCAA Division II Tournament appearance with the Bucs as a senior, Chigeru also repeated accolades in the classroom at Barry as a two-time recipient of the Athletic Director's Academic Award and making the Dean's List four times.

The eldest of three children of Anthony and Grace Agumagu, Chigeru has a younger sister, Crystal, and a younger brother, Ikechi.