CONWAY, S.C. -- Coastal Carolina University men's basketball has named Jimbo Tolbert as its new Director of Basketball Operations, Head Coach Cliff Ellis announced today. Tolbert's appointment begins immediately.

Tolbert is very familiar to Ellis, having been a manager for Auburn men's basketball from 1998-2001, including serving as head manager during the 2000-01 season. There, he coordinated team practice and game logistics, worked with the video editing system and assisted with the coordination of team meals. He was also added to the squad for the 2000 NCAA Tournament, seeing action in an opening round win against Creighton. Tolbert has also worked numerous camps in his career, including camps run by Ellis, Joe Dean, Jr., Jimmy Tillette and John Pelphrey. Tolbert graduated from Auburn in December 2003.

"As a player and a manger, he was a hard-nosed, committed, dedicated young man," Ellis said. "I am excited about him being a part of our basketball program. With his work ethic, he will bring a lot to Coastal and what we are working to accomplish here."

Most recently, Tolbert was the head coach of the boys' basketball squad at Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School in Montgomery, Ala. for the last two years. Last season, he led his team to a 19-10 record, a runner-up finish in the Class 3A-Area 4 Tournament. The squad also advanced to the sub-regional state playoffs while breaking seven school records. During those two years, Tolbert also coached the Birmingham Raptors 17-under AAU team, coaching eight players who went on to play college basketball, including five at the NCAA Division I level.

Prior to that, Tolbert served as an assistant coach at John Carroll Catholic for two years, helping the team to a 54-14 record in that span. His first year, the team captured the Class 6A state championship with a 31-3 record, and then, after losing four starters off that squad, helped guide the team to a 23-11 record the following season and a berth in the Class 6A Northwest Regional (state Sweet 16). He also was the head coach of the freshman boys' team, posting a 26-19 record in two seasons, including winning the Metro Tournament.

Tolbert played at Lander University from 2001-03, playing two years for the Bearcats. He played in all 28 games his junior season, starting seven of them and averaging 16 minutes a game. As a senior, he missed the first six games due to injury but returned to play in all 22 remaining contests, earning four starts and 17 minutes a contest.

Tolbert graduated from Montgomery Catholic in 1998, earning varsity letters his final two seasons. He set a new single-season school record for three-pointers his junior year, while helping the squad to its first winning record in five years and earning Honorable Mention All-Capital City Conference honors. As a starter his senior year, Tolbert led the team to the Class 2A Southeast Regional and broke his own single-season three-point mark and set new single-game and career three-point records. For his efforts, he again earned Honorable Mention All-City accolades and added a Capital City Conference All-Tournament team award. He was also selected to participate in the Alabama Power Slam Three-Point Shootout during the state final four.