Assistant Coach Marcus Belcher

The Gamecock Coaches

ASSISTANT COACH Marcus Belcher

Ray Harper hired veteran assistant Marcus Belcher to his staff prior to the 2022-23 season. Belcher arrived at Jax State from Illinois State where he recently served three seasons as an assistant for the Redbirds. The Mexico, Missouri, native, is no stranger to the challenging Missouri Valley, prior to his stint in Normal, Ill., he spent eight seasons as an assistant at Indiana State. He served as the associate head coach for the Sycamores his final two seasons. During his time at ISU he coached 11 All-MVC honorees, including two-time first team selection Jake Odum and 2015 MVC Freshman of the Year, Brenton Scott. He began his coaching career in 2004 as an assistant at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville. The Cougars made it to the Elite 8 of the NCAA DII Tournament in 2006. Belcher later made stops at Eastern Illinois (2007-08) and Evansville (2008-09), before beginning a two-year tenure at his alma mater of Southern Illinois (2009-11). Belcher was the starting point guard on the 2002 Southern Illinois Sweet 16 squad that went 28-8 and won the MVC Co-Championship. He later earned his master’s degree in sport management from SIU Edwardsville in 2006. He and his wife Vanessa have a son named Sebastian.

FIRST YEAR AT JSU

THE BELCHER FILE

BIRTHDAY: May 20, 1980 HOMETOWN: Mexico, Missouri ALMA MATER: Southern Illinois, 2002 SIU-Edwardsville, 2006

PLAYING CAREER

Southern Illinois: 2000-02 n 2002 NCAA Sweet 16

COACHING CAREER

2016-present: JSU, Assistant Coach Illinois State: 2019-22, Assistant Coach Indiana State: 2011-17, Assistant Coach n 2013, 2014 NIT Tournament n 2012 CIT Tournament Southern Illinois: 2009-11, Assistant Coach Evansville: 2008-09, Assistant Coach Eastern Illinois: 2007-08, Assistant Coach SIU-Edwardsville: 2004-06, Assistant Coach n 2006 Div. II NCAA Elite Eight