Corey Acord had the interim tag removed from his title as head coach of the WVU Tech men's basketball team in May. If that seems like a long time ago to him, then the waiting is finally over.
The Golden Bears will begin the 2026-27 season Tuesday night at Campbellsville. Tip-off from Kentucky is set for 7 p.m.
The team is coming off an 11-16 season (8-8 River States Conference) that was traversed with almost an entirely new roster. There will be more experience out of the gate this time around, but the Golden Bears also had some key losses that necessitated some new arrivals.
Key returning players include senior guard Ian Goings, a third-team all-conference performer last season after averaging 14.4 points and 5.5 rebounds per game; sophomore 3-point specialist Trayten Woods (10.9 ppg, 47.3 percent 3-pointers); and 6-foot-6 sophomore forward Roman Kellum (4.5 points, 3.0 rebounds).
"So those three guys that played significant minutes last year will help us this year," Acord said. "And then Graham Orndorff, Marty Johnson and (Shady Spring alumnus) Jalon Bailey will see a little bit bigger role than they had last year."
Second-team All-RSC guard Brandon Moore transferred after leading the Golden Bears in scoring at 16.4 points per game to go with 5.0 rebounds and 3.2 assists. Also gone is forward Jackson Tackett (10.8 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 2.3 apg).
Cole Chapman, who had a storied career at Shady Spring High School and filled up the stat sheet for the Golden Bears (5.2 points, 4.6 rebounds, 4.1 assists) is concentrating on academics.
To fill some voids, Acord was able to bring in some transfers and freshmen he feels can contribute significantly and immediately. They include Scotty Browning, a Logan native who played at NAIA power Georgetown, and Concord transfers Cole Lambert (Wyoming East) and Brendan Huffman.
"We brought in guys that have played high level college basketball before," Acord said. "And then our freshmen were more mature freshmen, freshmen that we probably wouldn't have gotten if the transfer portal wasn't as big in (Division) I and DII schools right now. They're ready to play right away because of their age and just how mature they are."
That list includes guard James Wood, who reclassified at Carmel Christian in Harrisburg, N.C., where he played for Beckley native Tamar Slay, Jase Smith of Bluefield and Harrison Riggs of Spring Valley.
Like last year, the Golden Bears will play few home games during the first semester — two, in fact. The first will be Nov. 11 vs. Milligan University at the Beckley-Raleigh County Convention Center. Admission for the 6 p.m. tip-off will be free.
