GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- Justin Chartrand has been promoted to the position of associate head coach at Tusculum University according to TU head coach JT Burton.
Chartrand has served as assistant coach for the past three seasons (2019-2022) where he has helped guide the Pioneers to a 52-27 overall record including 44-18 in South Atlantic Conference play. TU has posted three finishes in the top-four of the league under his watch while qualifying for the SAC Tournament each year.
"Justin has been a great asset not only to me as an assistant coach but to the Tusculum University community," Burton said. "We have a great relationship and he's like a brother to me. He is a true talent and is a rising star in the coaching profession."
In his first season with the Pioneers in 2019-20, TU posted a three-win improvement and finished fourth in the South Atlantic Conference with a 19-13 overall record. TU advanced to the SAC semifinal round for the first time in nine seasons led by All-SAC guard Trenton Gibson. Gibson was also named the 2020 SAC Elite 20 Award recipient and earned a spot on the CoSIDA Academic All-District first team.
In the COVID shortened 2020-21 campaign. Tusculum went 14-6 and vaulted to the No. 2 seed in the SAC Tournament where the Pioneers advanced to the semifinal round. TU posted a pair of wins over nationally-ranked teams including a 90-74 home win over eighth-ranked Lincoln Memorial. TU would later post a 65-63 overtime win over No. 23 Carson-Newman in the opening round of the NCAA Division II Tournament for the team's first-ever NCAA postseason victory. Gibson was named SAC Player of the Year and also captured the SAC Scholar Athlete of the Year Award, marking the first time in league history that one player swept the conference's top-two basketball honors. Joining Gibson on the All-SAC team were guard James West IV and SAC Freshman of the Year runner-up Inady Legiste. Gibson would be named the recipient of the SAC Presidents Award and the D2CCA Southeast Region Scholar Athlete of the Year. Gibson would later be tapped a CoSIDA Academic All-American.
In 2021-22, Tusculum overcame an 0-2 start to the season while marching onto an impressive 19-7 record which included a 19-5 mark in league action. TU jumped out to a 5-0 start including an 81-74 win at No. 4 Queens marking the biggest upset in program history. Gibson repeated as SAC Men's Basketball Scholar Athlete of the Year and was an Academic All-American. He would earn D2CCA All-Region and NABC All-District laurels. Legiste once again captured SAC accolades as he was an All-Conference third team choice.
"I'm beyond grateful for Coach Burton and the Tusculum community in giving me this opportunity," Chartrand said. "Anyone who knows me knows, that I'm living my dream every day, and words cannot express the love and dedication I have for our campus and community. It's been a rewarding experience to be a part of our program and I'm thrilled to see what the future holds for our team."
Chartrand came to Tusculum from Morehead State where he spent two years as the program's graduate assistant and three years as the head student manager.
During his time at Morehead State, Chartrand oversaw all the operational aspects of the program and assisted in scouting, player development and recruiting. His assistance in the day-to-day operations served as a vital component of the Eagles success. Chartrand assisted the Eagles during the 2015-16 season where they posted a remarkable 23-win season and an appearance in the CBI championship under head coach Sean Woods, which was one the best seasons in program history.
Chartrand has extensive experience in graphic design, video production, organizational management and strategic communication. He earned a Bachelor's degrees in strategic communications at Morehead State in 2017 and graduated in 2019 with his Masters in Communication from Morehead State as well.
Justin is a native of Miamisburg, Ohio and played his high school career at Bishop Fenwick High School under Pat Kreke and College Basketball Hall of Famer, Don Donoher.
