MONTREAT, N.C.— Earlier this September, Montreat athletics announced the hiring of Ben McCrickard as an assistant coach for the school's men's basketball program. McCrickard begins his duties immediately as the Montreat men's basketball program expects to begin its 2021-22 season in late October.
 
McCrickard joins the Cavaliers from Gardner-Webb University, where he served as a graduate assistant within the Runnin' Bulldogs men's basketball program from 2019 to 2021. While at Gardner-Webb, McCrickard earned his Master of Arts degree in Sport Education.
 
"I'm really excited to welcome [McCrickard] to the Montreat College basketball family," said head coach Garrett Jones. "We really wanted to identify a candidate that is like-minded when it comes to serving our student-athletes well and helping them grow not only as a player, but more importantly as a person, as we continue to challenge each of our young men spiritually, academically, and athletically."
 
Prior to his stint at Gardner-Webb, McCrickard spent a year coaching under Rodney Monroe at Southlake Christian Academy in Huntersville, N.C.
 
McCrickard graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree in Sport Management from Western Carolina University in 2018. While he attended WCU, McCrickard also earned valuable coaching experience, serving as both an assistant and a head coach over four years at Blue Ridge Early College in Cashiers, N.C. It was there that he helped the school win its first conference championship in twenty years.
 
Coach Jones added, "[McCrickard] has also served in a variety of different roles up to this point at both the high school and college level and learned from a tremendous and well-respected staff at Gardner Webb. Those experiences will help him add value to our program, and I can't wait to see him impact our program in a positive way in so many different areas."
 
Montreat men's basketball is expected to begin its 2021-22 season in late October, where McCrickard will have his first chance to coach the Cavaliers in game action.
 
"I am extremely excited and blessed for the opportunity at Montreat College," McCrickard said. "It does not take long to realize this a special place. I want to thank Coach Jones, President Paul Maurer and the entire Montreat community for the privilege to help lead these young men."