Xavier’s Chris Mack adds Ashley Howard and Mike Pegues to staff

Xavier head coach Chris Mack announced the hiring of two assistants on Friday morning, as he’s added Ashley Howard and Mike Pegues to the coaching staff.

Howard arrives by way of Drexel, where he was an assistant for the last four seasons under Bruiser Flint.

Howard helped the Dragons win their first-ever outright CAA regular season title in 2011-12, with Drexel finishing the season with a 29-7 record.

“Ashley has been around the game his entire life,” said Mack. “He is a tireless worker and will bring energy every single day to the practice floor. He’s worked with countless pros even before he hit the college floor in a coaching capacity. It was very evident in talking to some of his former players that Ashley deeply impacts the players he coaches.”

Pegues also leaves the CAA for the A-10, having been an assistant at Delaware for the last two seasons. The Blue Hens went 18-14 in 2011-12, winning 12 games in league play.

“Mike starts his time at Xavier with a tremendous pedigree,” said Mack. “As a high school player Mike was coached by the legendary Morgan Wooten and then established himself as the University of Delaware’s all-time leading scorer. He did it with an IQ for the game he learned at a young age. He’s used that gift to help develop post players his last two years at Delaware. I’m excited about Mike’s future.”

Interestingly enough both Howard and Pegues played for their prior employers at the collegiate level.

Howard played at Drexel from 1999-2002, averaging 8.9 points and 4.9 assists per game during his final season.

Pegues was an Academic All-American at Delaware and is considered by many to be the program’s greatest player. He scored 2,030 points during his career at Delaware, a mark that remains atop the school’s all-time scoring list.

Howard and Pegues join Travis Steele as assistants under Mack, replacing the departed Rasheen Davis (Manhattan) and Kareem Richardson (Louisville).

Raphielle is also the assistant editor at CollegeHoops.net and can be followed on Twitter at @raphiellej.