Mike Muse Named Assistant Basketball Coach
High school coaching legend earns promotion from basketball operations

Aug. 29, 2007

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Wake Forest head basketball coach Dino Gaudio has announced that Mike Muse, the director of basketball operations, has been promoted to assistant coach.

Muse, a legendary high school coach in Winston-Salem for more than 20 years, joined the Wake Forest basketball coaching staff in June, 2006 as Director of Basketball Operations.

"Mike made a very positive impact on the program last year," said Gaudio. "His outstanding coaching record at the high school level and his steadying hand on this staff made Mike the perfect choice for this position."

As director of basketball operations, Muse coordinated the team's daily schedule, team travel and meals, and various other administrative duties. As an assistant coach, his responsibilities will shift to daily practice preparation, recruiting and on-floor coaching.

Muse, 46, has been involved with Forsyth County athletics for more than 20 years, serving in a variety of capacities at both Reynolds and North Forsyth High Schools. He has worked as a head clinician and national talent evaluator for Bob Gibbons All-Star Sports as well as serving as a coach and clinician on the international level.

"Joining the Wake Forest staff as director of basketball operations last year was a dream come true," said Muse. "To be able to join such a distinguished coaching staff is truly an honor."

Muse began his coaching career as an assistant coach at Appalachian State, his alma mater, for two seasons -- from 1983-84 to 1984-85. After leaving Boone, he returned to Winston-Salem to serve as an assistant basketball, baseball and football coach at Reynolds High. In 1989 and 1990, he was head coach of the Demons' football team. In 1990 Muse left Reynolds for North Forsyth, where he worked 16 years in a number of roles. After working as assistant boys basketball coach for two years, Muse was named head coach of the girls team, a position he served from 1991 to 2000. In 2000, he moved over to work as head coach of the NFHS boys team.

At North Forsyth, Muse was also the head coach of the girls softball team from 1991 to 2006, compiling a record of 288-94 and earning Metro 4A Conference Coach of the Year honors five times. He was also an assistant football coach from 1991 to 1999. Coaching basketball, however, has been a part of Muse's life for more than 20 years. As a head coach, he has accumulated a record of 236-116 and has been named Metro 4A Conference Coach of the Year six times. His teams have won six conference regular season championships and seven tournament titles.

Muse coached his teams to two sectional championships, one regional title, and in 1996, his North Forsyth girls team played in the state 4A championship game. Nominated to coach in the 2004 McDonald's High School All-American Game, Muse's teams advanced to the state tournament in 12 of the past 14 years.

Muse's name has long been associated with basketball in the Triad. He was the first person to win the Frank Spencer Holiday Classic as a player and a coach, and he is the only coach to win both the Spencer and Mary Garber Classic events.

As part of the People to People Ambassador program, Muse has coached teams representing the United States in Italy, The Netherlands, Switzerland and Australia. Muse worked as a teacher at both Reynolds and North Forsyth. In 2002, he was North Forsyth's Teacher of the Year and was a finalist for Forsyth County Teacher of the Year. A 1985 Appalachian State graduate, Muse earned his masters from ASU in 1999.

Muse, 46, and wife, Deborah, have three children - Katie (18), Lauren (16) and Tanner (14).