GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- Tusculum College Men's basketball coach Jim Boone, has announced he will remain at the Greeneville, Tenn. school. Boone, who will be entering his fifth season at the helm of the Tusculum program, guided the Pioneers to a 20-11 campaign last year, including the program's second trip to the NCAA Division II Tournament.

Boone was one of the three finalists for the head coaching position at Armstrong Atlantic State University. Following a courtship and subsequent interview at the Savannah, Ga. school last Thursday (April 30), Boone made his decision.

?First, I would like to thank all the good people of Armstrong Atlantic State University for their most gracious hospitality,? Boone said. ?I was certainly flattered they were interested in me as their next head coach. Obviously, their interest is a reflection of all that we have accomplished here at Tusculum, and is a credit to our players, coaching staff and administration.?

?It was a good experience to visit and see all AASU had to offer and I am most appreciative of the opportunity. However, my family and I are very, very happy here in Greeneville and have thoroughly enjoyed our tenure at Tusculum College. I just did not feel the time was right to leave our program and I could not be more excited to continue to build upon the successes we have achieved.?

Tusculum returns six of its top eight players from last year's squad, including All-American and South Atlantic Conference Player of the Year Kyle Moore. Moore averaged 21.1 points per game and established a league record with his 101 made three-point field goals.

?The future of Pioneer basketball is very bright and it is most definitely a very exciting time for our program and College,? Boone added. ?This is a big summer for us, as we have a full slate of camps to offer and much preparation ahead for the upcoming season, and I am anxious to get to work.?

Boone is one of the most successful collegiate coaches in the nation, having compiled 381 career victories, ranking him 31st amongst NCAA II coaches. Included in that tally are 288 victories in 14 seasons at the Division II level, for an average of over 20 wins per year. Last year was Tusculum's first 20-win campaign as a Division II member and first in 16 years. For Boone, it was his seventh trip as a head coach to the NCAA Tournament.

Tusculum College, located in Greeneville, Tenn., is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church, USA and is a NCAA Division II member of the South Atlantic Conference which is comprised of nine colleges and universities in Tennessee, North Carolina and South Carolina.

- TC -