Erik Buggs - Men's Basketball Coach

Erik Buggs

Title:
Assistant Coach
Email:
ebuggs@utm.edu
Phone:
731-881-7668

Erik Buggs is in his third season as an assistant coach on the University of Tennessee at Martin men's basketball staff in 2023-24. He was also promoted to the program's recruiting coordinator in June 2022.

Last season, the Skyhawks reeled off the second-largest turnaround in school history, accumulating 19 victories - the fifth-most for the school in the NCAA Division I Era (since 1992). UT Martin equaled its third-most Ohio Valley Conference wins (10) in school history, defeating every OVC school at least once (including a season sweep of eventual NCAA Tournament participant Southeast Missouri). The Skyhawks advanced to the OVC Championship semifinals for only the fifth time in school history while tying for the most home wins (14) since the program transitioned to the NCAA Division I ranks in 1992.

UT Martin ranked second in school history in scoring (2,658 points) and rebounding (1,293) in 2022-23. The Skyhawks also found themselves in the top-15 in NCAA Division I men's basketball ranks and atop the OVC in defensive rebounding per game (28.7, seventh), fast break points (15.09 per game, ninth), scoring offense (80.5 points per outing, 14th) and rebounding per game (39.18, 15th). UT Martin additionally topped the OVC in scoring margin (+5.1), field goal percentage (.459) and field goal percentage defense (.422).

The Skyhawks shattered a school record for most single-season All-OVC performers (three) a season ago in Parker Stewart (first team), Jordan Sears (first team and All-Newcomer) and KJ Simon (second team). UT Martin was also one of only a dozen NCAA Division I schools to boast multiple National Association of Basketball Coaches All-District honorees in 2022-23 as Stewart and Simon collected those awards.

In Buggs' first season, the Skyhawks did not return a single player from the previous season - marking the first time an NCAA Division I squad could say that since 2014-15. UT Martin wasted no time showcasing its talent as the program combined to win seven of the 16 Ohio Valley Conference Newcomer of the Week awards.

The Skyhawks were matched up against a tough 2021-22 schedule as eight of their nine nonconference NCAA Division I opponents combined for a 175-126 record (.581 winning percentage). UT Martin wound up playing 12 games against opposition who played in the 2022 postseason.

Buggs coached Simon, who established himself as an OVC Player of the Year candidate in 2021-22. The junior was crowned to the All-OVC first team as well as earning a spot on the OVC All-Newcomer squad, becoming the first Skyhawk since two-time All-American Lester Hudson to accomplish that feat. Simon was the only NCAA Division I player in the country to average at least 16.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.4 blocks per contest and was named to the National Association of Basketball Coaches All-District 18 second team in the process.

In the classroom, UT Martin was the only current OVC program to receive the NABC Team Academic Excellence Award last season. The Skyhawks managed a cumulative 3.22 Grade Point Average.

Buggs has been a member of championship squads as a collegiate student-athlete and as a coach at the high school level. In 2020-21, he was the associate head coach under two-time NBA champion Mike Miller at Houston High School in Germantown, Tenn. The Mustangs ranked as high as No. 8 in the national prep polls on their way to a 26-3 record and state, sectional, regional and district championships. As the lead assistant at Houston, Buggs handled player development of multiple collegiate prospects while also overseeing academics and college recruitment.

Before his stint at HHS, Buggs also spent time in his hometown of Memphis, Tenn. as the head coach at both Kingsbury High School (2018-20) and Memphis Catholic High School (2016-18).

Beginning in 2016, Buggs served as the head coach and recruitment coordinator for Hoop City Basketball Club, an adidas Gauntlet organization based out of Memphis. He established direct relationships with NCAA, NAIA and junior college coaches and successfully placed players at every level of collegiate basketball – most of which went on to enter the NBA Draft pool and sign professional contracts overseas.

Buggs carved out a remarkable collegiate career on the hardwood, as he is the all-time leader in games played (138) while ranking fourth in assists (425) and sixth in steals (157) at Valparaiso University. Playing under head coaches Homer Drew (2008-11) and Bryce Drew (2011-13), Buggs was a part of 95 wins, a pair of Horizon League regular season championships, one Horizon League tournament title and three postseason appearances (2013 NCAA Tournament, 2012 National Invitation Tournament, 2011 CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament).

Starting in 122 games during his career, Buggs shined in the biggest moments. He was named Horizon League Tournament Most Valuable Player after scoring a career-high 22 points (on 9-of-13 shooting) with four steals in the championship victory over Wright State. He followed that with 14 points (on 7-of-11 shooting) and a career-best five steals against Michigan State in the first round of the 2013 NCAA Tournament. That same season, he was also named to the Horizon League All-Defensive Team after swiping 55 steals (ranking in the top-10 for a single season in Valparaiso history).

Buggs followed his collegiate days with a professional playing career, spending time in Switzerland and Chile from 2013-16. He helped guide the Club Deportes Universidad Catolica squad to a playoff berth during his tenure in Santiago, Chile.

In high school, Buggs captured all-state honors and was a McDonald’s All-American nominee as a senior at Mitchell High School, helping lead the Tigers to a berth in the state championship game with a 30-5 record. He was a four-time All-Region 16 AA and All-District 16 honoree, garnering Region MVP status as a junior while spending his first three seasons at White Station High School.

Buggs is married to the former Destiny Corbin from Chicago, Ill. and the couple has four children - Kyleigh, Elias, Egypt and Emery. He earned his bachelor’s degree in sports management from Valparaiso in 2013 before obtaining his Master’s degree in education from Memphis in 2020.