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Brian Ayers begins his 12th season on the Bruins' coaching staff.
Ayers specializes in post-play instruction - offensive moves, footwork, positioning, and team defense. His instruction is one of the main reasons why Belmont is annually among the nation's leaders in field goal percentage shooting and offensive efficiency.
Himself a productive post player at Lipscomb University for college basketball's all-time winningest head coach Don Meyer, Ayers has been instrumental in developing Belmont's forwards and centers. Three recent Bruin post standouts - Adam Sonn, Boomer Herndon and Andrew Preston - have gone on to enjoy lengthy professional careers overseas.
Sonn was named Atlantic Sun Player of the Year in 2003 while all-time great Adam Mark led the NCAA in field goal percentage as a sophomore and a junior. Mark ran his total of A-Sun Player of the Week honors to seven, the second most in conference history en route to back-to-back first team All-Atlantic Sun accolades.
In 2007-08, Ayers helped expand the game of forward Matthew Dotson - who showcased a variety of back to the basket moves in Belmont's near-upset of three-time National Champion Duke in the 2008 NCAA Tournament.
His continued work and patience with former all-conference centers Boomer Herndon and Andrew Preston reaped huge dividends as the duo ranked second and third in the Atlantic Sun in field goal percentage respectively in 2006-07. A year earlier, the Bruins led the Atlantic Sun and ranked fourth nationally in field goal percentage (.493). Moreover, Ayers helped Belmont enjoy one of the greatest single-season improvements in rebounding margin in program history - a big reason why the Bruins reached their first NCAA Tournament.
Ayers has also aided the development current post players Mike Dejworek, Mick Hedgepeth and Scott Saunders - not to mention Keaton Belcher and incoming freshman Trevor Noack - the latest in a long line of productive post players for Belmont.
Besides his work with the Bruins in the paint, he also handles opponent scouting, recruiting, and works in concert with the strength and conditioning staff on the individual workout programs for Belmont student-athletes.
Ayers, a native of Clarksville, Tennessee, spent two years on staff at Vanderbilt University. During that time, the Commodores made one trip to the NCAA tournament. Prior to that, he served as an assistant coach at Austin Peay. While with the Governors' program, Austin Peay won the 1996 Ohio Valley Conference Tournament Championship and advanced to the NCAA Tournament. Brian also served as an assistant coach at Nashville's David Lipscomb High School for one season, helping the Mustangs to a 28-6 record and the Class AA semifinals in 1995.
Ayers played his college basketball at Lipscomb University. He served as team captain his junior and senior years and earned NAIA Academic All-America honors. During Ayers' four year career, the Bisons compiled a record of 141-18 and advanced to one NAIA Final Four, two Elite Eights, and one Sweet Sixteen. He graduated from Lipscomb in 1993 while earning a master's degree in sports management from Austin Peay State University in 1996.
Ayers has two sons: Taylor (10) and Luke (7).
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