Wizards Veteran Takes Advising Role At Rising D1 Program

 Washington Wizards veteran forward Anthony Gill will be taking on a new task when he’s not representing the team on the NBA hardwood. A rising NCAA Division I school has enlisted Gill’s help to guide and develop the program.

Wizards Veteran Takes Advising Role At Rising D1 Program

Gill will be taking on the Men’s Basketball Chief Basketball Advisor role at a school relatively close to the DMV. In Lynchburg, Virginia, a new school under head coach Ritchie McKay’s guidance is on the rise in the basketball realm: Liberty University. At the surface, this signing is good. When you take a deeper dive, though, this hire is rooted in a bond between a coach and player. Gill and McKay go way back, and Gill says he owes McKay a whole lot.

Player-Coach Relationship

So, what’s the relationship between Gill and McKay? It all started back in 2012, when Gill transferred from the University of South Carolina to the University of Virginia to play under legendary coach Tony Bennett. McKay had recently finished his first coaching stint with the Flames (2007-2009) and was an assistant under Bennett when Gill arrived.

McKay was an active part of Gill’s recruitment, and the two spent three seasons together in Charlottesville. When Gill was asked about his relationship with McKay, Gill said:

“Coach McKay plays a huge part in the man I am today. Now that I have an opportunity to work alongside him, I am truly honored. He redirected my life my freshman year of college. Now I have the chance to walk alongside him in shaping lives for God’s glory.”

However, Gill isn’t the only one doing the praising in the relationship. When McKay was asked about Gill’s addition to the program, he had this to say:

“I’m extremely excited about the addition of Anthony Gill to our basketball family! Having recruited, coached and developed an incredibly authentic relationship with Anthony and Jenna, I can tell you they are a fabulous addition to our program. They are unbelievable representatives of their families and will great representatives for our family and university as well. On every team he’s been a part of, he’s modeled what it means to be a great teammate and fully invested.”

The New C-USA Powerhouse

McKay returned to Liberty in 2015. Since then, he has slowly been building a very strong program in the heart of Virginia. He’s led the team to nine straight winning seasons, with a record of 234-106 since he retook control of the program. Liberty, just two seasons ago, made the jump to Conference USA. However, before that, the Flames were dominating the Atlantic Sun Conference.