This week, the CAC INTRODUCING ... feature turns to visit the past and welcome back a long-time friend. 

Frostburg State University's Webb Hatch was the first-ever men's basketball coach at Marymount University and guided the Saints to a CAC title in the second year of the conference (1992). 

Hatch is still the winningest coach in MU men's basketball history with 107 wins and guided the Saints to an 18-10 mark in that championship season, which still ranks as the second-highest single-season win total in team history.  Marymount appeared in three CAC championship games under Hatch.

Now, he brings his FSU Bobcats into one of the most competitive conferences in NCAA Division III.  He left MU to spend one year as an assistant coach at VMI (his alma mater), then accepted the Frostburg State position, where he's been for 11 seasons, 144 wins and one conference title in the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference.

As the third decade of CAC men's basketball tips off on Nov. 15, we introduce, or in this case RE-INTRODUCE ... Webb Hatch.

What is your background in the sport you played and now coach? 

Playing Background - I played high school basketball at Waverly HS in southeastern Virginia. After high school, I attempted to walk on in college as a player at VMI, but was cut. I then became the team’s manager for head Coach Gary McPherson

Coaching Background - I began my coaching career as an assistant coach at Prince George High School and later served as the head coach at Nansemond- Suffolk Academy. My first collegiate coaching job came at Virginia Wesleyan as I served as an assistant for nine years under Don Forsyth. 

My first head coaching position came at Marymount University from 1987-97. In 1990-91, I was voted as the Capital Athletic Conference Coach of the Year and Marymount advanced to the CAC Tournament championship three times.

Following Marymount, I returned to my Alma Mater and served as an assistant coach for one year (1998-99) before joining Frostburg State in August of 1999.

This season will be my 37^th year as a coach and 22^nd as a college head coach. I have also been a 30-year member of the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC).

What is your favorite spot on campus?  The gym is my favorite place on campus because it serves as the classroom for our team and coaching staff

Briefly describe the most memorable experience during your collegiate athletic career.

• The relationships/friendships I have with some of my former players who are now grown men
• Winning our first ever game at Marymount University
• Being part of conference championship teams everywhere I have coached

What is one thing you would change about yourself?  If I could change one thing, it would be my patience.

What is your major in college, and what is the most important thing you learned in that discipline?  I earned my bachelor’s degree in history from Virginia Military Institute (VMI) in 1969. I earned my master’s degree in education from Old Dominion University (ODU) in 1985.

Other than your family members, who was the most influential person in your life?  Other than my parents, Ray Carson whom I worked under as a high school assistant coach. He taught me about paying attention to details, taking care of the little things, having a passion for coaching and about professionalism.

What is your favorite pastime other than coaching?  I enjoy reading, particularly biographies and current events. Anytime I can get to the beach is also a bonus as I love the coastal life style.

Outside of the Capital Athletic Conference, who or what is your favorite sports person or team?  I tend to identify more with coaches than teams at this point in my life so I find myself often rooting for a coach:

• Dean Smith and now Roy Williams – Former and current head coach at the University of North Carolina.
• Tubby Smith – Former head coach at Kentucky and current head coach Univ. of Minnesota.
• Nick Saban – Current head football coach at the University of Alabama
• Steve Spurrier – Former head football coach of the NFL’s Washington Redskin and current head football coach at the Univ. of South Carolina.
• Jerry Sloan – Current head coach of the NBA’s Utah Jazz
• Gregg Popovich – Current head coach of the NBA’s San Antonio Spurs

Name three (3) people, real or fictional, living or dead, that you'd like to have dinner with?   Thomas Jefferson who served as the third president of the United State of America from 1801-1809. He was also the principal author of the Declaration of Independence. 2. Frank Sinatra who was an American singer and actor. He won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in From Here to Eternity in 1954. 3. Winston Churchill who was a British politician and statesman who served as prime minister twice from 1940-45 and 1951-55.