Jerrod Calhoun

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In just six short months, Jerrod Calhoun has re-energized the Fairmont State basketball. Calhoun not only has a vision of where he wants to take the Falcon basketball program, but also the determination and energy to make sure that it comes to fruition.

Calhoun has hit the ground running since being tabbed as the program’s 11th head coach in school history. Not only did he nab one of the more highly regarded recruiting classes, he has aggressively fundraised to help secure several improvements for the program, namely a brand new locker room for the men’s program that will be the envy of any Division II program in the country.

In just a brief time, Calhoun has already embraced the culture, the history and the community of Fairmont. He has actively sought the counsel of the legendary Joe Retton and made sure that his team has a visible presence at civic and campus organizations. He is keenly aware that Fairmont loves a winner, but knows that his players must connect with the people to truly gain the support from fans.

A Cleveland, Ohio native, Calhoun has been a successful assistant coach at Walsh (NAIA) and most recently at West Virginia under Bob Huggins. At Walsh, the Cavaliers posted an 82-21 record during his three seasons there, including the 2005 NAIA national championship, 2006 NAIA Elite Eight and 2007 NAIA Sweet 16. He spent four years at WVU as the director of basketball operations before serving last season on the bench as an assistant coach under Bob Huggins. The Mountaineers went 19-14 last season and advanced to the NCAA Tournament.

"This is a chance of a lifetime," Calhoun said at his introductory press conference. "The one thing I kept hearing about this job is the tradition. We've had great coaches and players here, and I'm not here to re-invent the game. I've been trained by the best playing for Rollie Massimino and obviously I wouldn't be here today without Coach Huggins.

"I want to win a national championship, but I'm not a guy that's going to make a lot of promises," Calhoun said. "But our guys are going to play the game the right way, they'll be in the community and they're going to be hardest working team in America."

“We are very pleased to welcome Jerrod and his family to the Fairmont State family,” said Elliott. “Jerrod is an extremely bright, young coach with a great knowledge of the game and obviously a tremendous pedigree. I know Jerrod is eager and enthusiastic to take over here and make Fairmont State a competitor at the conference, regional and national level.”

Calhoun began his coaching career at Cincinnati in 2003-04, where he served as a student assistant under Bob Huggins. That year, the Bearcats were 25-7 overall and advanced to the second round of the 2004 NCAA tournament.

Calhoun played two years of college basketball at Cleveland State for Rollie Massimino. While at CSU, he was a member of the Dean’s List as well as the Student-Athlete Advisory Board.

Calhoun attended Villa Angela-St. Joseph High in Cleveland, earning four basketball letters and was team captain his senior year. He averaged 19.0 points per game his senior year and graduated as the school record holder for free throw percentage. Calhoun was also tabbed Lake County News Herald Player of the Year.

Calhoun coached AAU basketball for three years in the Cleveland Basketball Club and worked the USA Developmental Festival in Colorado Springs in 2001. He has also served as a coach and counselor at the Rollie Massimino basketball camp, Five-Star basketball camp, Walsh basketball camp and the Bob Huggins basketball camp.

Calhoun graduated in 2004 from Cincinnati with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and a minor in communications. He has a son, Jordan, and married the former Sarah McKenna in May 2011.