Coach Croci Announces Newest Addition to Tiger Staff
Wittenberg Men's Basketball Head Coach Matt Croci '94, welcomes Adam Beam as the newest assistant coach, heading into the Tiger's 2023-24 campaign. Beam most recently served as Assistant Coach and Recruiting Coordinator at Alfred University (NY).
"I am very grateful for the opportunity to learn and grow under a head coach like Coach Croci," said Beam. "It is exciting to be joining a basketball program with such a successful tradition and I am ready to work to continue that. I am thankful to be a part of the Wittenberg community and family."
Beam helped guide the Saxons to an overall record of 44-19 during his three seasons, winning 20+ games for the fourth time in school history. Beam was part of a staff that led the Saxons to tie a school conference win record in 2022-23 with 14 victories. During all three seasons, the Saxons would clinch an Empire 8 playoff berth, appearing in the semifinal game in 21-22 and 22-23. The 2022-23 Saxons would go on to win their first ever ECAC Tournament title in school history. In his three seasons, eight players garnered All-Empire 8 laurels. As a team, the Saxons set four new single-season records including, Fewest Points per Game Allowed (63.8), Lowest FG % (39.9), Lowest Three-Point % Allowed (26.5). The Saxons would also set a new record in the rebounding margin category, finishing the season at +6.5.
Off the court, Beam's Saxons earned the NABC Team Academic Excellence Award in 2021-22. During the 2021-22 season, eight players were recognized with NABC Honors Court recognition, finishing with a GPA above 3.2. During his time at Alfred, 20 student-athletes were recognized on the Empire 8 President's List for earning over 3.75 single semester GPA.
Beam comes to the valley with a wealth of experience at a pair of Division I programs. For three seasons, he served as a Head Student Manager at his alma mater, Wright State University. During his time on the coaching staff, Wright State won the Horizon League in 2018 for the first time in 11 seasons and earned berths into the NIT Championships the last two seasons after winning the regular season title. Beam also spent time as a student manager for the University of Ohio Bobcats men's basketball program for the 2016-17 season.
Outside of the college ranks, Beam served as the operations manager for the Hoop Group, a company dedicated to helping youth players develop and realize their dream of playing hoops in the next level. He recruited, hired, and supervised a camp staff, while also coaching basketball to the campers. He also served as the head runner and recruiting coordinator for the Hoop Group Elite program, bringing some of the best high school talent in the region together to showcase their talents.
Beam, a Dayton, Ohio native, earned a B.S. in Organizational Leadership from Wright State in May 2020.