Coaching Staff
Marcus Kirkland | Head Coach
The Newberry College Athletics Department announced that Marcus Kirkland is its new men's basketball coach.
Kirkland joins the Newberry College community after serving as Associate Men's Basketball Coach and Athletic Director of Diversity and Inclusion at Wingate University.
"We had an extremely talented pool of finalists for this position and Coach Kirkland became our clear choice after making positive connections with our student-athletes, coaches, staff, supporters and administrators," said Newberry College Director of Athletics Sean Johnson. "We are confident that he will help our men's basketball student-athletes achieve all their goals and aspirations while making a positive impact on our department, campus and community."
"I am particularly excited about the opportunity at Newberry College because of its commitment to excellence in both academics and athletics," said Kirkland. " I am confident that my experience, skills, and passion for collegiate basketball align perfectly with the goals of the Newberry College Wolves. I am eager to bring my vision, energy, and dedication to this role, and to work collaboratively with the entire college community to build a championship-caliber program."
Kirkland completed his 13th year as a member of the Wingate University men's basketball staff, the last nine years serving as Associate Head Coach.
During those 13 seasons he was part of a Bulldog program that posted a combined overall record of 229-151 (.602) and a record in South Atlantic Conference play of 158-99 (.615).
Wingate won a share of the 2023-24 SAC regular season title, the program's first since 2007-08, two SAC Tournament titles and made five NCAA Division 2 Tournament appearances, including this season and advanced to the regional semifinals three times.
His career at Wingate was bookended by a pair of SAC tournament or regular season titles and NCAA Tournament appearance.
The 2011-12 squad was 21-12 and 13-5 in the SAC, winning the league tournament title, Wingate's first conference tournament title since 2007, while rebounding from a 3-7 start.
This season's team posted a 22-9 overall record and earned a share of the SAC title with a 16-4 conference record and advanced to the NCAA Tournament.
In between the Bulldogs won the 2013 SAC Tournament title, earning an NCAA Tournament berth and doing the same in 2016 and 2017.
He will be missed at Wingate, but I could not be happier for Marcus to get the chance to lead his own program," said Bulldog head coach Brian Good. "After thirteen years together, he was much more than just an assistant coach. His understanding of the region and SAC makes this a great decision by Newberry."
"Marcus is going to be a great head coach," said Wingate Athletics Director Joe Reich. "He is a high character guy who has great drive and great people skills. I am excited for him."
Kirkland has been selected as one of 50 individuals to attend the prestigious 2024 NCAA Basketball Coaches Academy in July.
Kirkland has specialized in working with post players from the NBA to high school.
He spent seven years as the head coach for the Hoop Nation AAU team, was a volunteer assistant coach for one year at Livingstone College and served two years as an assistant coach at Reading College.
Kirkland and his wife Renee have a daughter (Captain Kerri Renee Kirkland, US Army 28) and a son (Marcus Kirkland Jr., 24). Kirkland's dad (Wilbur) was a two-time college All-American and an NBA draft pick. A 10-year Italian professional league veteran, Wilbur Kirkland played one season each for the Philadelphia 76ers and the ABA's Pittsburgh Pipers. His mom (Elaine) was a high school principal and educator for 30 years. She holds a Doctor of Education degree.
Jelani Johnson | Associate Head Coach
Jelani Johnson joined the Wolves as an assistant coach with the men's basketball team in the fall of 2022.
Johnson joins the Wolves after spending the last three seasons at Plainfield North High School where he served as a special education teacher's assistant in addition to his coaching duties. He spent the last two seasons as the head coach of the school's sophomore team after spending just one season as the freshman team head coach.
He has also served as a coach, facility supervisor and girls program director with Supreme Courts LLC since 2015 where he was responsible for designing unique plans for individual practice and training sessions. From 2015-2017, Johnson was playing professionally in Australia, Mexico and France through various FIBA leagues.
"I am extremely excited to have Jelani here at Newberry. He's going to do a great job for us," said Taylor. "Jelani played for a great college coach and spent four years playing oversees. Those experiences will help him mentor, teach, and lead our young men. His positive enthusiastic personality is going to make an impact on our campus, community, and our extended alumni family."
Johnson played all four years of his collegiate competition, his first two at Western Illinois before transferring to Bellarmine to finish out his time. He was a consistent starter in the second year at both institutions making 117 appearances throughout his career while making 56 starts. During his final season at Bellarmine, he averaged over six points a game while shooting for 46% on the year from the floor. He helped lead his team to a GLVC regular season and tournament title in 2012.
He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in communications in 2013 from Bellarmine University.
Brian Hewitt | Assistant Coach
Former standout student-athlete and Division II head coach, Brian Hewitt, has joined Marcus Kirkland's coaching staff in 2024.
Hewitt served as an assistant as well as interim and the Head Coach at Southern Wesleyan from 2021-24. He previously served as an assistant at NCAA Division II schools Lee (TN) and King (TN) and at Moravian Prep (NC) and Sullivan East in Bluff City, Tenn.
As a student-athlete at King, Hewitt was selected first team All-Conference Carolinas and helped the program earn their first-ever NCAA Tournament berth in 2011-12. He is the school's all-time leader with 193 career steals and scored more than 1,000 points in his career. He also ranks seventh in program history with 200 three-point baskets and third with 448 assists.
He received his undergraduate degree from King in 2013.
Luke Seals | Student Assistant
Bio Coming Soon!