Florida SouthWestern State College has announced the hiring of\u00a0David Grace\u00a0as the next head coach of the Buccaneers men\u2019s basketball program.<\/p>\n
Grace brings more than 25 years of coaching, leadership and student-athlete development experience to FSW, including 14 years at the NCAA Division I level and a distinguished career that spans some of the nation\u2019s most respected basketball programs. Throughout his career, Grace has helped guide teams to four NCAA Tournament appearances, three Sweet Sixteen berths, five 20-win seasons, a Pac-12 Tournament Championship, and a College Basketball Invitational (CBI) Championship.<\/p>\n
\u201cCoach Grace\u2019s experience at the highest levels of college basketball, combined with his passion for student-athlete development and leadership, made him an exceptional choice to lead our men\u2019s basketball program,\u201d said Dr. Jeff Allbritten, president of Florida SouthWestern State College. \u201cHis proven record of building winning cultures, developing talent, and mentoring young people aligns perfectly with FSW\u2019s commitment to excellence in athletics and academics.\u201d<\/p>\n
A nationally respected recruiter and talent developer, Grace spent five seasons at UCLA as assistant men\u2019s basketball coach and recruiting coordinator, helping lead the Bruins to 117 victories and three Sweet Sixteen appearances. During his tenure, UCLA assembled five Top 5 national recruiting classes, including the nation\u2019s No. 2-ranked class in 2018. Grace played a key role in recruiting and developing future NBA stars, including Lonzo Ball, and helped mentor numerous All-Pac-12 performers and professional players.<\/p>\n
His Division I coaching r\u00e9sum\u00e9 also includes leadership positions at Vanderbilt University, the University of California-Berkeley, Oregon State University, the University of San Francisco and Sacramento State. Across his collegiate coaching career, Grace has recruited and developed 21 future NBA players, including five NBA Draft Lottery selections, and has been recognized nationally as one of the sport\u2019s premier recruiters. In 2020, he was ranked the No. 1 recruiter in the Southeast by his Division I coaching peers and was named one of Silver Wave Media\u2019s Top 50 Most Impactful High-Major Coaches in the country.<\/p>\n
Most recently, Grace served as head coach at Campbell Hall High School in Los Angeles, where he led the program to historic success, including its first-ever Elite Eight appearance in CIF Southern Section Division I competition.<\/p>\n
Before entering coaching, Grace served 20 years in the United States Air Force, including service during Operation Desert Storm. Grace is the founder of Amazing Grace Warriors, a nonprofit organization dedicated to youth development and community engagement through sports camps, mentorship programs, and fundraising initiatives.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am incredibly honored and grateful for the opportunity to join Florida SouthWestern State College and lead the Buccaneers men\u2019s basketball program,\u201d Grace said. \u201d Our focus will be on developing outstanding student-athletes, competing for championships, and creating a culture of accountability, discipline, and service that makes our college and community proud.\u201d<\/p>\n
Grace becomes the latest leader of an FSW men\u2019s basketball program that has established itself as one of the premier junior college programs in the nation. His extensive experience at the NCAA Division I level, championship pedigree, and commitment to developing young men position the Buccaneers for continued success in the years ahead.<\/p>\n
About Florida SouthWestern State College<\/p>\n
Florida SouthWestern State College\u00a0serves nearly 20,000 students in Southwest Florida and around the world, offering a career-focused affordable pathway to higher education. With campuses in Fort Myers, Naples, and Punta Gorda, a center in LaBelle, and\u00a0FSW Online, students are provided a broad range of academic opportunities. These include 29 associate degrees and six bachelor\u2019s degree programs in high-demand fields such as nursing, education, technology, and public safety, as well as workforce certifications, continuing education, and study abroad experiences. Committed to student success and workforce readiness, FSW fosters a dynamic campus environment that prepares graduates to thrive both locally and globally.<\/p>\n