Who These Guys Are: Mike Pegues
As Georgetown's assistant coach search continues, names remain tossed around as possible hires. Some are legitimate, others not so much. One that's accurate Mike Pegues.
A 12 year coaching veteran, Pegues (44) was last interim head coach at Louisville, a role he inherited twice this past season as then head coach Chris Mack was first suspended, later fired. In the first chair at Louisville Pegues went 7-11.
Pegues was at Louisville for a quartet of seasons, campaigns in which the Cardinals achieved NCAA and NIT Tournament bids, while also in '19-20 garnering it's 15th straight, eight conference win season, victories snagged during a global pandemic.
That Pegues was at U of L with Mack makes sense, as the tandem coached Xavier between 2012 and 2018. While in Cincy, the pair achieved tremendous success, including five NCAA Big Dance bids, advancing to an Elite Eight and Sweet 16 standing. Overall, X owned a 67.9% winning percentage with Pegues.
Their 2017-18 crew earned BIG EAST Conference regular season champion honors and a number one NCAA Tournament seed, both first time events for the school. When the dust settled on that season, Associated Press positioned Xavier third nationally.
His second college coaching gig - alma mater Delaware - was an illustration of success, as the Blue Hens, in his second and final season there (2010-11) went 12-6 in CAA competition. Pegues' coaching career started at VCU as video Coordinator, a campaign that produced a 27-9 record and College Basketball Invitational championship achievements.
What's been apparent in Pegues' career are penchants for development and recruiting. Just ask Mack.
“Mike Pegues is one of the best coaches in the country,” said Mack to Louisville's team website. "He does a terrific job of teaching footwork, positioning and understanding of the game. Having been with me for the past 10 seasons, it’s been impressive to see the development of big men during Mike’s tenure. Our players will love his energy, IQ for the game and his sincerity". Mack consistently made comments like this regarding Pegues at both stops.
In terms of recruiting, Mack added Pegues' "relationships with coaches around the country have allowed us to recruit from some of the best high school programs in the nation.”
Louisville's 2019 signing class, positioned 10th by Rivals.com had his fingerprints all over it, as did three consecutive top 20 recruiting hauls at Xavier.
Per sources, a few highlights of his recruiting work follow:
Jarvis Threatt - Delaware, G League/International, Highland Springs (VA)
Naji Marshall -Xavier, NBA, Eleanor Roosevelt (MD)/Hargrave (VA)
Kaiser Gates - Xavier, G League/International, St. Francis (GA)
Noah Locke - Louisville, transfer portal from Florida, McDonough (MD).
A former professional player with stops throughout the world - Italy, New Zealand, England, Argentina - prior to that Pegues starred at Delaware, earning his communications degree in 2000. On the court, he is the Blue Hens' top scorer ever (2,030 points) and competed in a pair of Big Dance tries. Add two time all district, CoSIDA Academic All-American, America East Conference Player of the Year and Delaware Hall of Fame accolades to his Delaware performer resume.
After the ball stopped bouncing for Pegues due to a knee injury, he returned home to the DMV (District-Maryland-Virginia), teaching high school and coaching.
Being a known entity throughout the region having starred at DeMatha (MD) in high school, Pegues joined DC Assault, one of the more fabled grassroots organizations and Bishop O'Connell of WCAC fame. Both benefited from Pegues' knowledge, skills, teaching ability and knock of forming relationships.
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