Michael Perry has been appointed as an assistant coach for the East Carolina men’s basketball team, as announced by third-year head coach Michael Schwartz on Monday afternoon. Perry had previously been the radio color analyst for ECU men’s basketball games over the past three seasons. This hiring marks Perry’s return to the Pirates’ bench, where he spent 11 seasons as an assistant coach, including serving as interim head coach for the final 24 games of the 2017-18 season.
“We are very fortunate to add Mike Perry to our coaching staff,” said Schwartz. “He is a true professional who brings experience, relationships, and a deep passion for this university and program. Mike is a first-class individual, and we are thrilled to have him back here at ECU.”
Before his tenure at ECU, Perry was the head coach at Georgia State for five years (2003-07) after serving as an assistant coach under “Lefty” Driesell for five years. During his decade at Georgia State, Perry played a pivotal role in developing the basketball program, guiding the team through the transition from the Atlantic Sun Conference to the Colonial Athletic Association.
Under Perry’s leadership, Georgia State achieved 165 wins (averaging 16.5 per year) and made two postseason appearances. He helped the Panthers win the Atlantic Sun Conference title in 2001 and secure a first-round upset over Wisconsin in the NCAA Tournament. Georgia State also received an NIT bid the following year.
During his time at Georgia State, the team won three regular season conference championships and one tournament title. Perry also led the team to back-to-back 20-win seasons for the first time in school history, directing a total of three 20-win campaigns. In his first full season as head coach in 2003-04, Perry guided the Panthers to a 20-9 record.
Perry was promoted from associate head coach to head coach on January 3, 2003, following Driesell’s retirement. He had joined Driesell’s staff as an assistant in 1997.
Perry’s coaching career began at Virginia Union in 1985. He then moved to his alma mater, the University of Richmond, in 1986, where he remained until joining Driesell at Georgia State in 1997.
A native of Richmond, Virginia, Perry was a four-year letterman at the University of Richmond, starting in all 108 games from 1978 to 1981. He was an all-conference player and honorable mention All-America, averaging nearly 20 points per game throughout his college career, including 22.8 points per game as a senior. Perry was inducted into the Richmond Athletic Hall of Fame in 2002 and was drafted by the Kansas City (now Sacramento) Kings in 1981.
Perry holds a degree in real estate business from the University of Richmond. He and his wife, Darlene, have two daughters, Rashawna and Ashley, and a son, Michael Jr.
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