FORT MYERS, Fla.- The Florida SouthWestern Men's Basketball program will remain in familiar hands this season as Friday, Bucs Director of Athletics George Sanders announced that Assistant Coach Darrin Wallace has been promoted to the role of Interim Head Coach for the 2024-2025 season. 

Wallace moves over one seat on the bench where he will replace Eric Murphy who resigned earlier this week to take a position at Western Kentucky University after leading the FSW program for six seasons. 

"I am incredibly grateful and humbled to be named the Head Coach at Florida SouthWestern State College" Wallace said. "This opportunity means the world to me, and I am fully committed to working tirelessly towards sustaining a successful FSW Men's Basketball program. With dedication, passion, and a relentless work ethic, I am determined to lead our program to new heights both on and off the court."

Wallace finished his fourth year on the Bucs staff this season as he was a part of the Bucs first two teams from 2016-2018 before returning in 2022 for another two year stint. In his four seasons with the Bucs, Wallace coached 21 players that moved onto the Division I level while helping FSW to a 98-28 overall record. Between stints at FSW, Wallace spent time coaching at the high school level where in 2018, he was voted the Class 3A FABC Coach of the Year after leading Canterbury School to the state finals. Prior to joining the Bucs in 2016 Wallace served as the Video Coordinator at the Division I level at Florida Gulf Coast University. Wallace has coached some of the best AAU teams in the country, working with Nike Team Florida in the EYBL and Florida Elite, Team Knight, CP25, and Southeast Elite on the Adidas Circuit. All together Wallace has coached over 100 players that have moved on to the Division I level.

"Darrin is an easy choice" FSW Director of Athletics George Sanders said. "He is from the community, played junior college basketball, has coached with us and in the local community and is familiar with the FSW way. I feel he is a natural fit as the next leader of our Men's Basketball program and the next wave of Buccaneers."

Wallace will take over as the Interim Head Coach for the Bucs immediately.