Williamsburg, Va. - William and Mary men's basketball head coach Tony Shaver announced the promotion of Austin Shaver to assistant coach on Tuesday. Austin Shaver moves into the position after serving as the Tribe's Director of Basketball Operations each of the last two seasons. Along with his time in Williamsburg, Shaver spent two years as an assistant coach at the Division III level with Hampden-Sydney and a year as a graduate assistant in the CAA with VCU as well as working with AAU and high school programs in the state of Virginia.

"It is exciting to have the opportunity to promote Austin to an assistant coach," Tony Shaver said. "Austin brings a familiarity with the league, our program and our players that further develops the cohesion of the Tribe program. He has a variety of experiences that will make him a strong assistant, including time as a graduate assistant in the CAA, two years of coaching and recruiting experience at Hampden-Sydney as well as an understanding of the high school and AAU circuit in Virginia. He has worked under some great coaches, and his knowledge of the game and the W&M community will benefit our program."

"I am very excited for the opportunity to continue working at the College of William and Mary as an assistant coach," Austin Shaver said. "I have a passion for the players on this team as well as the College as a whole. I share the staff's commitment to enhancing the program's success through hard work and dedication. I've been fortunate to work for some great coaches along the way at many different levels, and they have all helped prepare me for this opportunity."

Prior to joining the Green and Gold staff, Shaver spent two seasons as an assistant coach at Hampden-Sydney for former Tribe assistant Dee Vick. During his tenure at Hampden-Sydney, the Tigers returned to the semifinals of the Old Dominion Athletic Conference Championship in 2009 and defeated two nationally-ranked top-20 programs in 2010. HSC also produced the program's first-ever ODAC Rookie of the Year in Harrison George during the 2009-10 campaign. Shaver had a hand in recruiting a number of players on Hampden-Sydney's current roster that finished among the top schools in the ODAC at 19-8 in 2011-12.

"Austin's promotion to an assistant position makes it a great day for Tribe basketball," Hampden-Sydney head coach Dee Vick said. "The precision needed to recruit successfully at William and Mary is challenging to understand unless you work there or know people who have worked in that capacity. Austin has both of these advantages on his side. He made an incredible impact on our basketball program in two short years. Austin did a great job of evaluating talent and recruiting student-athletes. The guys he helped bring in have allowed our program to return to the top part of our league. Austin's competitiveness and drive will further his impact on the Tribe program." 

Shaver graduated in 2007 from the University of Virginia with a degree in psychology. During his senior year at UVa, Shaver was an assistant coach at perennial Virginia Independent Schools power Miller School while serving as a head coach for the East Coast Fusion AAU program. Shaver also spent a summer coaching with the touted Boo Williams AAU organization that consistently develops the top basketball talent in the state of Virginia.

Upon graduation from UVa, Shaver joined the VCU Center for Sport Leadership graduate program, earning his master's degree while working as a graduate assistant for the Colonial Athletic Association regular season champion Rams under current Alabama head coach Anthony Grant. Shaver co-directed the 2008 VCU Center for Sport Leadership International Showcase that brought in players fresh from college as well as agents from professional teams looking to offer contracts.

"I am excited for Austin and the William and Mary basketball family," Alabama head coach Anthony Grant said. "Austin will bring a tremendous passion and work ethic to his role as an assistant coach. His knowledge of the game and familiarity with the CAA and W&M's system will allow him to hit the ground running. He is a great hire for William and Mary."

Austin and his wife, Kelly, were married in June of 2010 and reside in Williamsburg.