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Salisbury athletic director Michael Vienna announced the hiring of Andrew Sachs as men's basketball head coach.
Sachs replaces Josh Merkel, who left in April to take the head coaching position at Randolph-Macon.
Sachs, a Salisbury alumnus, joins the Sea Gulls following a 24-year collegiate coaching career, most recently spending six years as head coach at Bethany, where he led the Bison to a 117-49 record and two NCAA tournament berths. Bethany was 18-11 this past season.
"We are excited to have Andy join our department and our men's basketball program," Vienna said. "His history with Salisbury University, his successful coaching career, and his recruiting ties to the Mid-Atlantic Region make him an ideal fit to lead the men's basketball program going forward."
“We want to thank Andy for his six years of service to Bethany College,” said Bethany athletic director Brian Rose. “While we are disappointed to see him leave, a chance to return to his alma mater is a very good situation for him and his family. We wish Andy and his family all the best in their new endeavor at Salisbury.”
From 1988-92, Sachs was the top assistant under Ward Lambert when the Sea Gulls posted a 76-36 record, finishing the stretch with back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances and a program-record 27-consecutive wins during the 1991-92 season and a run to the NCAA quarterfinal round.
"It is a thrill to be able to return to Salisbury and the program with which I started my career," Sachs said. "I thank Dr. Vienna and the selection committee for having faith in me. I bleed maroon and gold, and I'm looking forward to carrying on the great tradition of Sea Gull athletics."
This will be Sachs' fifth collegiate stop, having spent a five-year stint with Division I Holy Cross and a five-year run with Division II Indiana (Pa.). In both situations he was the top assistant. Sachs also had a four-year run as an assistant with Virginia Wesleyan, where he helped the Marlins to their first Old Dominion Athletic Conference title and an NCAA Tournament appearance.
Sachs is the seventh head coach in the history of Salisbury men's basketball.