Duggar Baucom was named the 30th head men’s basketball coach in The Citadel’s history on March 30, 2015 after a successful 10-year stint at VMI. Overall, Baucom is 252-296 as a head coach, including a 215-277 mark at the Division I level and a 64-118 record in six years at The Citadel.
Baucom has had 15 former players make it to the professional ranks, including Kevin Martin who played 12 seasons in the NBA and Reggie Williams who played seven seasons in the NBA. Most recently, former Bulldogs Matt Frierson and Lew Stallworth signed professional contracts following the 2018-19 season. Frierson signed with Campo Mourão Basquete out of Brazil, while Stallworth signed with BC Zaporizhya in the Ukraine.
Of the 13 head coaches in Citadel basketball history who coached four or more years, Baucom is only the fourth to record double-digit wins in each of his first four seasons. Baucom’s 51 wins in his first five years rank eighth in program history.
Under Baucom’s guidance, the Bulldogs have made the most 3-point field goals (2,052) in NCAA Division I over the last six seasons, the only Division I program to eclipse the 2,000 mark in that category over that span.
During the 2020-21 campaign, The Citadel finished with a winning record for the first time since 2008-09, recording a 13-12 mark. Baucom also matched the program record for postseason victories, capturing his third SoCon Tournament win in a 100-86 win over Western Carolina. The Bulldogs also won 11 games inside McAlister Field House, their most in a single season since the 2001-02 campaign.
Under Baucom's tutelage, Hayden Brown emerged as one of the top players in the SoCon, becoming the first Bulldog to average a double-double since 1970-71. Brown also captured consensus First Team All-SoCon honors, while Kaiden Rice was named Second Team by the media and Third Team by the coaches.
The 2018-19 season saw the Bulldogs begin the campaign 9-2 through the first 11 games, including road wins over South Florida, James Madison and Campbell. The 9-2 record marked the best start since the 1979-80 team, and The Citadel’s nine wins before the Christmas break set the program record. The Bulldogs’ 8-3 record in games against non-SoCon teams marked the best out-of-conference record since the 2001-02 team also went 8-3 prior to opening up SoCon action.
Zane Najdawi, Frierson and Quayson Williams ended their collegiate careers having been a part of 45 victories, the most for a graduating class since the 2011-12 seniors ended their careers with 52 wins.
During the season, the Bulldogs set 11 single-game program records, including most points scored, most field goals made, most 3-point field goals made, most made 3-pointers in a regular-season SoCon game and most 3-pointers made against a Division I opponent. The ‘Dogs also set single-game records for most 3-point field goals attempted, most defensive rebounds, most total rebounds, most blocked shots versus a D-1 opponent, most blocked shots in a regular-season SoCon game and most 3-point attempts in a SoCon tournament game.
The Bulldogs ended the season ranked in the top five in the Southern Conference in eight statistical categories, including leading the league in scoring average (85.1 ppg), free throw percentage (.736) and made 3-pointers per game (12.3). The Citadel ranked third in the SoCon in offensive rebounding average (10.7), defensive rebounding average (26.1) and assists per game (15.4). The ‘Dogs were fifth in the SoCon in blocked shots per game (3.7) and turnover margin (+0.73).
In the NCAA Division I ranks, The Citadel finished the 2018-19 campaign ranked second for made 3-pointers per game and fourth in both scoring average and total 3-pointers attempted (1,076). The ‘Dogs ranked seventh in total treys made (370) and 39th in assists per contest.
Following the season, Stallworth was named a second-team All-Southern Conference selection by both the coaches and media, while Najdawi was tabbed to the media’s third team. Stallworth, who earned five player of the week honors during the season, was also named to the HoopsHD.com All-SoCon team.
In 2017-18, Baucom became the first coach in program history to improve his Southern Conference record in each of the first three seasons at the helm. He became the first head coach to notch a win in the SoCon Tournament in back-to-back seasons.
The 2017-18 campaign saw Baucom and staff field one of the youngest teams in all of NCAA Division I. The Bulldogs’ scholarship roster included six freshmen, four sophomores and three juniors with no seniors. Even so, the Bulldogs finished the campaign in the top-25 in the nation in eight statistical categories, including second in 3-pointers made per game (12.1), third in 3-pointers attempted (1,133), fourth in total 3-point field goals made (386), tied for fourth in steals per game (9.4) and fifth in total steals (301). Baucom’s Bulldogs were also sixth in turnovers forced (542), 20th in scoring (82.5 ppg) and 21st in assists per game (16.5).
The Bulldogs led the Southern Conference in scoring, totals steals, steals per game, total 3-point field goals made and 3-pointers made per game. The Bulldogs were also second in the league in turnover margin (+2.03), total assists (528), assists per game and offensive rebounds per contest (11.8).
The 2017-18 Bulldogs’ 386 made 3-pointers, 528 assists and 301 steals are all second in program history to Baucom’s 2016-17 team that converted 397 treys, finished with 561 assists and had 306 steals. The 2017-18 campaign also saw the ‘Dogs finish fourth in program history for assist-to-turnover ratio (1.107) and seventh in blocks (99).
In February of 2018, the Bulldogs earned three wins over teams ranked in the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25. On February 1, the ‘Dogs downed in-state rival Wofford 80-78 with the Terriers ranked No. 17 in the poll and No. 4 in the SoCon standings at the time. Two days later, The Citadel notched an exciting 100-92, overtime win over Furman with the Paladins 19th in the mid-major top-25 poll and third in the SoCon. Possibly one of the biggest wins in recent history came on February 20 as the Bulldogs went on the road to defeat ETSU 84-82. The Buccaneers entered the game atop the SoCon standings and ranked the fifth-best mid-major program by CollegeInsider.comat the time. The Bucs ended the season ranked 16th in the poll. Two weeks prior to that win, the Bulldogs had lost a close, 73-71 game to the Bucs at home after defeating Mercer on the road 76-74 on January 27. The win over the Bears marked the first win for The Citadel over Mercer in Macon, Georgia since the 1926-27 campaign.
In the Bulldogs’ 116-66 win over Trinity Baptist on November 21, the ‘Dogs had 45 made field goals, 25 steals and 32 assists. The 116 points scored ranked tied for 26th in the nation for most points scored in a single game that year while the 25 steals ranked tied for fourth for steals by an NCAA Division I team in a single game. The Bulldogs’ 32 assists were tied for the 15th-most by a team in a single game during the year and the 45 made field goals was tied for 18th in the nation. The Citadel also ranked third in the nation for 3-pointers made in a single game with 21 against Oglethorpe on November 10.
Under Baucom and his staff’s guidance, Najdawi was named to the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) All-District 22 First Team as well as the All-Southern Conference First Team by the league coaches, media and HoopsHD.com. Najdawi became just the fourth player in program history to pick up first-team all-conference honors from both the coaches and the media. In the regular-season finale at Western Carolina on Sunday, Feb. 25, Najdawi became just the 27th player in SoCon history and second in program history to eclipse 1,000 points, 500 rebounds and 100 blocks for his career. Najdawi scored his 1,000th-career point in the home win over Wofford on February 1 and brought down his 500th rebound in the game regular-season finale at Western Carolina.
Frierson saw his offensive production take off during the 2017-18 campaign with Frierson ending the year ranked sixth in all of NCAA Division I for 3-point field goals attempted (314) and 3-pointers made per game (3.6). Frierson set the program record for treys made in a season with 114, and was named the Sixth Man of the Year for the SoCon by HoopsHD.com.
In his second season at the helm of the program (2016-17), Baucom and company posted 12 wins, including a 5-0 start in McAlister Field House and a win in the Southern Conference tournament for the first time since 2010. The 12 wins were the most since the 2009-10 season, most by a second-year head coach since 1986-87 and fifth-most in school history by a second-year head coach. Baucom also eclipsed a milestone of his own on Nov. 15, 2016 as he earned his 200th career win in dominating fashion with a 119-90 victory over Truett McConnell. The Bulldogs, led by Baucom’s fast-paced style of play, led all of Division I in scoring with a blistering 89.8 points per game, marking the seventh time a Baucom led team finished with the highest-scoring offense in Division I.
During the 2016-17 season, the ‘Dogs shattered eight single-season team records and six single-game records as they rolled to a 146-84 win over Johnson University (Florida). The 146 points bettered the previous single-game points record Baucom set in 2015-16 season against Mid-Atlantic Christian by 14 points and the 80 second half points broke the previous record set back in 1972. In the same game, the Bulldogs tallied 27 steals against the Suns, which ranked second in the nation while their 34 assists ranked fourth. The Citadel also scored 144 points on Dec. 7 against Toccoa Falls, giving them the two highest single-game point totals in the NCAA during the 2016-17 season. The team also finished with five of the 11 highest-scoring performances in the SoCon and for the second consecutive year, led the conference in scoring offense and turnover margin.
After posting just two 100-point games in his first season, Baucom’s squad racked up nine 100-point games with five of them coming on the road. The Bulldogs also had just five games with multiple players scoring at least 20 points the previous season but posted 10 games with multiple 20-point scorers and five games with a 30-point scorer in 2016-17.
The Citadel’s six freshmen racked up 57 double-digit scoring games and were led by SoCon Freshman of the Year Preston Parks. Parks, who was also named to the media all-freshman team along with Kaelon Harris, became the first freshman to lead the SoCon in scoring in conference play since Davidson’s Stephen Curry in 2006-07, and is only the second Bulldog to ever earn the award. Baucom also guided Najdawi as he earned two SoCon Player of the Week honors, The Citadel’s first weekly awards since 2014.
Baucom also guided The Citadel to its first win at Wofford since 2007 and his first win on their homecourt as they downed the Terriers 104-103 on Jan. 2, 2017. The Bulldogs also snapped an eight-game losing streak against Chattanooga on Senior Night, giving the class of 2017 their first win ever over the Mocs.
In his first season at the helm of the program (2015-16), Baucom steered the Bulldogs to 10 victories with a roster that returned just 28.6 percent of its scoring from the 11-win 2014-15 season. In just one season, Baucom improved the Bulldogs’ scoring average as a team by 22 points as The Citadel finished second in the nation in points per game with 86.0 points per contest. His new system, defined by a blistering pace offensively and constant pressure defensively, made a significant mark in year one.
Under Baucom’s direction, The Citadel scored more than 100 points twice after the Bulldogs had done so just once since 1989. His first squad in Charleston shattered single-season school records for total team points, steals, field goals made and three-pointers made and ranked fifth among all Division I programs in turnovers forced per game. The Bulldogs also set a new program record for points scored in a single game with a jaw-dropping 132 points in a 72-point rout over Mid-Atlantic Christian.
Baucom launched his tenure at The Citadel in style, leading the Bulldogs to a 5-2 mark through the first seven games, their best start since 2004-05. The hot start was fueled by three wins in three days at the Palmetto State Shootout. The Citadel's spotless week at the Shootout earned the ‘Dogs a tournament title over Thanksgiving break. A month later, Baucom and company improved to 7-4 with a 99-87 road win at Bethune-Cookman as the Bulldogs racked up the most points at the Wildcats' Moore Gymnasium since Feb. 11, 1991.
The Bulldogs battled through a tough Southern Conference slate to end the season and finished Baucom's first campaign 4-2 in games decided by three points or less.
Prior to his time in Charleston, Baucom amassed a 151-159 record with the Keydets of VMI. The Charlotte, North Carolina, native left VMI as the school’s all-time leader in wins. His 10 years represents the third-longest coaching tenure in Keydet history. Baucom, who led the Keydets to three Big South Tournament championship games, is one of two VMI head basketball coaches to post two 20-win seasons.
His 2008-09 team won 24 games, the second most in school history trailing only the 1976-77 team that advanced to the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament. VMI's second-place finish in the Big South that season was easily its best since joining the league in 2003-04. It also resulted in Baucom winning the NABC District Three Coach of the Year.
In 2013-14, VMI advanced to the semifinals of the CollegeInsider.com Tournament, which was its first postseason appearance in 37 years.
Baucom’s feverish style resulted in VMI leading the nation in scoring offense six times in an eight-year span including 2006-07 (100.9 ppg), 2007-08 (91.3), 2008-09 (93.8), 2009-10 (88.6) and 2010-11 (87.9) and 2013-14 (88.3). The Keydets also made three appearances in the Big South Conference final and witnessed two national scoring titles by Reggie Williams (2006-07, 28.1 ppg; 2007-08, 27.8 ppg) in that stretch.
His head-coaching career began at Tusculum, where he posted a 37-19 overall record. Baucom was responsible for guiding the Pioneers to their first South Atlantic Conference (SAC) Tournament championship and automatic berth in the NCAA Division II Tournament (2004-05). In his first season at the helm, Baucom led Tusculum to a 19-8 overall record, including a 10-4 mark in conference action, and earned the conference’s Coach of the Year honor.
Baucom made his move to Greeneville, Tennessee, after serving as an assistant for three years at Western Carolina. While with the Catamounts he oversaw the recruiting efforts and landed several top players including guard Kevin Martin, a 2004 first-round draft pick of the Sacramento Kings.
After three years at the helm of the AAU Charlotte Royals, Baucom became an assistant coach at Davidson for the 1995-96 season. He parlayed that into an assistant coaching position at Mars Hill for the next two seasons. There, he performed a variety of duties including scouting, film exchange, recruiting coordination and the development of strength and conditioning program.
That experience helped Baucom to obtain the role of assistant coach at Northwestern (La.) State in 1998-99, where he implemented a skill development program for perimeter players while directing scouting and coordination of recruiting visits.
Baucom is a 1995 graduate of UNC Charlotte.
