UNC Wilmington Athletics

Press Conference Video, April 6, 2017 | Press Conference Photos | Introductory Video, April 7, 2017

Colin Bryan (C.B.) McGrath, an assistant coach on The University of North Carolina’s 2005, 2009 and 2017 national championship teams, was named the 11th men’s basketball history in UNCW history on April 3, 2017.

McGrath, 44, came to the coast from UNC, where he spent 14 seasons on Roy Williams’ staff in Chapel Hill. He lettered four years as a point guard under Williams at Kansas and served on his staff in Lawrence for four years before moving with his mentor to the Tar Heel state.

In his first season with the program, McGrath led the Seahawks to an 11-21 overall record and sixth place finish in the CAA. The record included an upset for No. 3 seeded Hofstra in the quarterfinals of the CAA Tournament.

The Seahawks ranked fifth in offensive rebounding in the NCAA in 2017-18 behind Devontae Cacok, who led the nation in rebounds per game (13.5 rpg) and offensive boards (5.06). The Alpharetta, Ga., forward went on to lead all NCAA Division I players in double-doubles in 2018-19 as the Seahawks went 10-23 and split a pair of games in the CAA Tournament.

Cacok signed a two-way contract with the Los Angeles Lakers in the summer of 2019 and was on the club's preseason roster.

McGrath is widely recognized as one of the nation’s foremost recruiters and bench coaches. In addition, McGrath oversaw UNC’s clinics and coached the junior varsity team in Chapel Hill.

McGrath’s association with Williams goes back to his days as a walk-on player at Kansas. McGrath earned a scholarship before the start of his freshman season and was a top reserve behind First-Team All-American Jacque Vaughn in 1994-95 and Ryan Robertson as a senior.

The Jayhawks did not lose a home game during McGrath’s time in Lawrence, going a perfect 58-0 during his career.

A tri-captain for KU in 1997-98 and a two-time Academic All-Big 12 selection, McGrath appeared in 112 games for the Jayhawks, scoring 82 points, with 35 steals and 113 assists, including a better than 2:1 assist-turnover ratio. McGrath’s first collegiate bucket was a three-pointer at N.C. State’s Reynolds Coliseum.

McGrath is one of 20 members of his family who attended Kansas.

McGrath served on Williams’ staff in seven Final Four appearances, including the last two with the Tar Heels. McGrath was an assistant coach on UNC’s 2005, 2009 and 2017 NCAA Championship teams.

McGrath grew up in Topeka, Kansas, and was a multi-sport standout at Topeka West High School, earning a total of 13 varsity letters in basketball, cross country, track and field and golf from 1991-94. He was named the Kansas Basketball Player-of-the-Year as a senior, placed in the top-10 in the state in cross country and golf and was inducted into the Topeka West High School Hall of Fame in 2001.

McGrath earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Human Biology from the University of Kansas in 1998 and completed his Master’s Degree in Education at KU in 2000.

McGrath’s wife, Kris, played tennis at KU, where she was the Big-12 Player-of-the-Year in 1999. The couple has twin daughters, Kate and Addison, and a son, Hunter.

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The C.B. McGrath File

Personal
Full Name: Colin Bryan (C.B.) McGrath
Date of Birth: Nov. 21, 1975 (44)
Education: B.A., Human Biology, University of Kansas, 1998; M.S, Education, University of Kansas, 2000
• One of 20 members of the McGrath family to attend the University of Kansas
• Wife, Kris, played tennis at KU, where she was the Big-12 Player-of-the-Year in 1999
• Has twin daughters, Kate and Addison, and a son, Hunter
• Multi-sport standout at Topeka West High School from 1991-94 and earned 13 varsity letters in basketball, cross country, track and field and golf
• Inducted into Topeka West High School Sports Hall of Fame in 2001

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Playing Career
• Named Kansas Basketball Player-of-the-Year as a senior at Topeka West High School in 1994
• Walk-on candidate at Kansas and earned scholarship before start of freshman season
• Lettered four years as a point guard at KU under Coach Roy Williams
• Top reserve behind First-Team All-American Jacque Vaughn in 1994-95 and Ryan Robertson as a senior
• The Jayhawks did not lose a home game during career, going perfect 58-0 at Allen Fieldhouse
• Tri-captain for KU in 1997-98 and a two-time Academic All-Big 12 selection
• Appeared in 112 games for KU, scoring 82 points, with 35 steals and 113 assists, including a better than 2:1 assist-turnover ratio
• Made first collegiate bucket, a three-pointer, at N.C. State’s Reynolds Coliseum

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Coaching Career
• Served four years as administrative assistant on staff of Roy Williams at Kansas
• Spent 14 seasons on coaching staff at North Carolina under Coach Williams
• Coordinated UNC’s clinics and coached the junior varsity team in Chapel Hill
• Served on staff of 2005, 2009 and 2017 NCAA National Champions
• Served on staff for seven Final Four appearances (2002, 2003, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2016, 2017)
• Named Head Coach at UNCW on April 3, 2017

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Career Timeline
• Player  – Topeka West High School (1990-91 | 1991-92 | 1992-93 | 1993-94)
• Player – University of Kansas Men’s Basketball (1994-95 | 1995-96 | 1996-97 | 1997-98)
• Administrative Assistant – University of Kansas Men’s Basketball (1999-00 | 2000-01 | 2001-02 | 2002-03)
• Director of Men’s Basketball Operations – University of North Carolina Men’s Basketball (2003-04)
• Assistant Coach – University of North Carolina Men’s Basketball (2004-05)
• Director of Men’s Basketball Operations – University of North Carolina Men’s Basketball (2005-06)
• Assistant Coach – University of North Carolina Men’s Basketball (2006-07)
• Director of Men’s Basketball Operations – University of North Carolina Men’s Basketball (2007-08)
• Assistant Coach – University of North Carolina Men’s Basketball (2008-09 | 2009-10 | 2010-11 | 2011-12 | 2012-13 | 2013-14 | 2014-15 | 2015-16 | 2016-17)
• Head Coach – UNCW Men’s Basketball (2017-18 | 2018-19)

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The Press Room
McGrath To Take Over UNCW Basketball, April 1, 2017
McGrath Ready To Lead UNCW, Friends Say, Wilmington Star-News, April 1, 2017
McGrath Takes UNCW Job, Wilmington Star-News, April 4, 2017
McGrath Ready To Take On Next Commitment, Topeka Capital-Journal, April 8, 2017
Topeka West Graduate McGraph Named Head Coach At UNCW, Topeka Capital-Journal, April 3, 2017
UNCW Hires North Carolina Assistant C.B. McGrath As Head Coach, USA Today, April 3, 2017
McGrath Leaves UNC Behind, Forges Own Path In Wilmington, News & Observer, Oct. 9, 2017