Central Michigan University Athletics
Men's Basketball Names Assistant Coach
6/24/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
June 24, 2003
MOUNT PLEASANT -- Central Michigan University men's basketball coach Jay Smith announced the hiring of Lamar Chapman as an assistant coach.
Chapman spent the last two years as head coach at Muskegon Heights High School where he led the Tigers to a pair of state semifinal appearances, two district championships, two regional championships and a 42-9 overall record. Muskegon Heights was the state runner-up in Class B this past season.
"We are very excited to have someone of Lamar's caliber join our staff," head coach Jay Smith said. "He's a perfect fit for our institution. We hired a great high school coach who has a lot of ties to other high school coaches in the state. We feel he will be able to recruit and coach the types of players that will be successful at Central Michgian University."
The Muskegon Chronicle tabbed Chapman the area "Coach of the Year" following the 2002 season. CMU signed one of Chapman's high school players in the early signing period last November, guard Eddie Spencer. Chapman coached four other players who accepted scholarships to play college basketball.
"I'm very excited to join the Chippewa basketball family," Chapman said. "It has always been a goal of mine to coach at the Division I level. Coach Smith and I have known each other for the past six years and we share a lot of the same philosophies and beliefs, along with a great passion for the game of basketball."
Lamar also spent the last eight years serving as recreation coordinator for the City of Muskegon Heights. He started coaching in the Muskegon Heights system in 1995 as head coach of the freshman team (1995-97) and was an assistant on the varsity staff from 1998-2000.
Chapman received a bachelor's degree from Lane College in Jackson, Tenn., in 1993. He was a four-year starter on the basketball team there and then played in the Global Basketball Assocation for the Jackson Jammers in 1992-93.
Lamar graduated from Muskegon Heights High School in 1988.
