Coach Chris Briggs is entering his 10th season as head coach of Georgetown College in Georgetown, Kentucky. As we approach the beginning of the 2020-2021 basketball season, the Tigers will be defending their 2019 national title for the second straight year due to the cancellation of the 2020 NAIA National Tournament.
Prior to the cancellation of last year’s national tournament, the Tigers posted a 30-2 overall record and claimed the Mid-South Conference regular season and tournament title. This team earned the top overall seed going into the national tournament.
During his time at Georgetown, Coach Briggs has taken the Tigers to eight NAIA tournaments. Among Briggs’ eight tournament appearances include three trips which ended in the quarter finals and three trips to the national title game, two of which he won in 2013 and 2019. Under Briggs, the Tigers also have six MSC regular season and tournament championships.
Coach Briggs was named NAIA Coach of the Year in 2013 and 2019, and MSC Coach of the Year in 2019. He has coached 20 NAIA All-Americans, four MSC Player of the Year honorees, one MSC Defensive Player of the Year and 31 All-MSC honorees. He has also coached three NAIA Player of the Year selections in Vic Moses (2013), DeAndre McWhorter (2016) and Chris Coffey (2020).
Briggs got his start in coaching after playing his Freshman year at King College and later transferring to the University of Kentucky to be a student manager. He credits a great experience at Kentucky to Bill Keightley, aka Mr. Wildcat, and former Kentucky head coach, Tubby Smith. Prior to becoming the head coach at Georgetown College, Briggs served as an assistant coach for four years.
In the Georgetown College programs, there are four common principles they use which greatly contribute to their success. Those principles are passion in how they play and approach the game, communication, trust and family. The core principles for the Tigers are evident as they have become one of the more prominent programs on the NAIA landscape.
“We just want to work hard and be the best people, players and coaches we can be for our school and family,” said Briggs. “There is never a wrong time to do the right thing.”
As far as the 2020-2021 season goes for the Tigers, everything is still a question mark. Through the uncertainty, the team continues their preparation to be in the best possible shape they can for when it’s time to play.
“As a coach, I’m looking forward to watching great young men achieve their dreams, and walking across that graduation stage,” said Briggs when asked about what he is looking forward to this season.
Be on the lookout for another breakout from the Tigers in the 2020-2021 season!
