Winiecki Named Associate Head Coach for Clemson Men’s Basketball

CLEMSON, SC – Mike Winiecki has been named associate head coach for Clemson men’s basketball.  Head Coach Brad Brownell made the announcement Wednesday.  Winiecki has been an assistant coach at Clemson each of the past two seasons, and is entering his 21st season overall at the Division I coaching level. “Mike has done an excellent job here at Clemson,” Brownell said. “He has a great deal of experience at this level, and is highly respected in the coaching community. He has been instrumental in the development of our post players, and is well deserving of this title.” Winiecki was largely responsible for the development of two players in particular over each of the past two seasons, Jerai Grant in 2010-11 and Catalin Baciu in 2011-12.  Under Winiecki’s guidance, Grant averaged career bests in points per game (12.4) and rebounds per game (6.7) and was an All-ACC Defensive Team selection as a senior.  The Tigers advanced to the second round of the 2011 NCAA Tournament with Winiecki on staff. In two seasons with Winiecki’s coaching, Baciu played 54 games after appearing in just 21 his first two seasons at Clemson.  This past year, Baciu led the Tigers with a .581 field goal percentage and scored 126 points, which more than doubled his three-year career total prior to 2011-12.  Starting frontcourt players Devin Booker and Milton Jennings both averaged career bests in points and rebounds per game in 2011-12 as well. Winiecki has been an assistant coach at his alma mater, Richmond, as well as Boston University, Campbell, UNC Wilmington and Wright State.  He was an assistant alongside Brownell in Wilmington from 1998-2002, and has been an assistant under him each of the past five seasons.   Winiecki was an all-conference player for Richmond from 1986-89 and led the Spiders to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament in 1988.