Chadwick promotes graduate assistant

HUNTINGTON -- Marshall University women's basketball head coach Royce Chadwick promoted John McGraw from a graduate assistant position to fill a vacancy on his staff.

McGraw steps into the assistant coach job held previously by John Sutherland who is now an associate athletic director and Big Green Scholarship Foundation executive director. Sutherland moved into his new role after the season ended in March.

"John is a tireless worker," Chadwick said. "He has all the tools to be a great recruiter for us at Marshall. His knowledge of the college game is outstanding and his contacts are limitless.

"I expect big things from him as our newest family member."

McGraw spent the 2007-08 season as a graduate assistant with the Thundering Herd after serving two seasons as the head coach at Notre Dame Prep (Mass.). At Notre Dame Prep, McGraw led the team to a runner-up finish in the 2005-06 NACA Tournament while winning the Big Apple Recruiting Christmas Classic in both seasons at the school.

His teams at Notre Dame Prep produced Marshall players Tania Walters and Rashedah Henriques.

He was the head coach at The Patterson School (N.C.) in 2004-05 and the team was recognized as the Educator's Basketball Association national champion.

As head coach at John Jay College (N.Y.) in 2003-04 his team set a school record with 16 wins.

Before getting into coaching, McGraw founded the Big Apple Tournament of Champions, a major event on the women's basketball summer recruiting circuit. He also started the Big Apple Recruiting service used by several NCAA Division I programs.

The Endicott, N.Y., native has a bachelor's in sport management from the University of Massachusetts (1996). He is working on a master's in athletic administration at Marshall.