ABILENE, TX — Men’s basketball head coach Joe Golding will leave ACU to take the same position at the University of Texas-El Paso, two sources confirmed to KTXS on Tuesday evening.
Golding was one of five finalists for the UTEP head coaching job, after being considered for the opening at Texas Tech.
ACU associate head coach Brette Tanner, who was Golding’s right-hand man for the past eight years, is, for now, not following Golding to UTEP, according to a source.
Tanner is in the mix to replace Golding as ACU’s head coach.
Tanner was the mastermind behind the Wildcats’ defense which led the nation in turnovers forced per game, and was integral to ACU’s upset over Texas in the NCAA Tournament in March. He also handled every scouting report for the Wildcats during the 2020-2021 season.
Before coming to Abilene, Tanner was an assistant coach at Stephen F. Austin for seven years.
Golding, a former ACU player, spent the past ten years as the Wildcats’ head coach, and led the program through its transition from Division II to Division I.
ACU won the Southland Conference Tournament in 2019 and 2021, advancing to the NCAA Tournament both times.
UTEP head coach Rodney Terry left the Miners to join new Texas head coach Chris Beard’s staff.
