Takayo Siddle- Head Coach
Takayo Siddle, a key lieutenant for Kevin Keatts during UNCW’s resurgence in men’s basketball earlier this decade, is in his second season with the Seahawk program. Siddle, 35, was named head coach on March 13, 2020, and is making his fifth coaching stop and first as a head coach. He previously served as an assistant coach at Hargrave Military Academy, Gardner-Webb, UNCW and NC State. In his inaugural season at UNCW in 2020-21, Siddle guided the Seahawks to the championship of the Mako Medical Asheville Classic and steered the Seahawks through a campaign that presented numerous scheduling challenges due to Covid-19. Siddle played for and coached with Keatts and served as interim head coach for the Seahawks in March of 2017 before joining his longtime mentor on the NC State bench. Siddle is a tireless recruiter and was tabbed the No. 4 recruiter in the country in 2019. During his three-year stay at UNCW from 2014-17, Siddle helped the Seahawks return to prominence in the CAA, winning three regular season championships and two CAA Tournament crowns (2016, 2017). The Seahawks went 72-28 overall in Siddle’s three years and advanced to the postseason all three campaigns, including the CIT (2015), NCAA (2016) and NCAA (2017). He recruited five All-CAA selections as the Seahawks went 48-14 in the circuit. Siddle moved on to NC State and the success followed. The Wolfpack averaged more than 80 points per game in Siddle’s first two seasons with the Pack. Prior to that, the last NC State team to average more than 80 points in a season was the 1995-96 team. Siddle played a key role in the emergence of Pack guards Markell Johnson and Braxton Beverly. He helped develop Johnson into a premier playmaker in the NCAA. Johnson a Second-Team All-ACC selection, led the ACC in assists as a sophomore (2017-18) and senior (2019-20) and left NC State as just the third-player in program history to score 1,100 career points, racking up 600 career assists and record 150 steals. Beverly, meanwhile, signed with the Pack a few months after Siddle joined the staff and drained 136 three-pointers in his first two seasons, the most by an NC State player through their sophomore season. During Siddle's time in Raleigh, the Wolfpack featured one of the best offensive attacks in the ACC. NC State ranked in the top-40 in the NCAA in tempo by KenPom.com in the first two seasons. In addition, the Wolfpack was dangerous from long distance. In 2018-19, NC State hit 292 three-pointers, the second-most in program history. The 2017-18 NC State team set a program record when it hit a 19 three-pointers in a win over Jacksonville. One of Siddle’s outside threats, junior guard Devon Daniels, raised his scoring average from 9.0 ppg to 12.7 ppg. Siddle launched his coaching career in 2009-10 as a member of Keatts’ staff at Hargrave, beginning a long, successful relationship with his mentor. The Tigers featured 12 NCAA Division I signees, including five in the ACC, SEC, Big East and Big Ten Conferences. Siddle then spent four years at Gardner-Webb. He was hired as an assistant coach at GWU by former head coach and current Ohio State skipper Chris Holtmann, who served as an assistant coach during Siddle's freshman, sophomore and junior years in Boiling Springs. Siddle followed Keatts to the North Carolina coast in the summer of 2014 and helped the Seahawks compile a 72-28 record with three postseason berths in three seasons from 2015-17. The Seahawks captured the 2015 and 2016 CAA titles and advanced to play in the NCAA Tournament in Providence (vs. Duke) and Orlando (vs. Virginia). A native of Eden, N.C., Siddle was a prep standout for Coach John Harder at Morehead High School, averaging 27.0 points, 6.0 assists and 2.0 steals in his senior season with the Panthers. He then attended Hargrave in 2004-05 and helped the Tigers advance to the national prep school championship game. Siddle played four seasons at Gardner-Webb from 2005-09, appearing in 114 games. He played in 21 games during his freshman year when GWU upset Minnesota and East Carolina on the road and took defending national champion North Carolina to the final buzzer. He started all 30 games for the Bulldogs as a sophomore in 2006-07 and averaged a career-best 8.6 points per game with 104 assists. As a junior in 2007-08, Siddle saw action in 32 games and helped Gardner-Webb stun No. 20 Kentucky at Rupp Arena and advance to the Final Four of the 2007 2K Sports College Hoops Classic in Madison Square Garden. Siddle earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Sociology from Gardner-Webb in 2009.
Kurt Kanaskie- Assistant Coach
Kurt Kanaskie, a veteran coach with 40 years of college basketball experience, joined new UNCW men’s basketball coach Takayo Siddle’s staff at UNCW in April of 2020. Kanaskie becomes the first coaching addition for Siddle and arrives on the North Carolina coast from Colorado Springs, Colo., where he has spent the last six seasons at Air Force. “We’re honored and excited to have Kurt as a part of our coaching staff," said Siddle, who takes over the helm of the program after three years at N.C. State. "Kurt has a wealth of experience and knowledge as a basketball coach. He’s exceptional on the court, in recruiting and he's great at building relationships with players." Kanaskie, who has headed up three programs during his extensive career, spent four years as an assistant coach at Air Force before being elevated to associate head coach in 2018-19. He helped the Falcons post three 14-win seasons and three conference tournament victories. Kanaskie came to the Rocky Mountain State from Virginia Tech, where he was an assistant coach with the Hokies. Prior to his stop in Blacksburg, Kanaskie served as the head coach at Drake for seven seasons (1996-2003) after becoming one of the most successful Division II head coaches in Pennsylvania history. “I’ve been coaching a long time and I’ve never been as excited about an opportunity much as UNCW,” he said. “UNCW has so much basketball history and potential. Coach Siddle is a rising star in our profession and it will be great to be part of the program.” Following a stellar playing career at La Salle, Kanaskie began his coaching career as an assistant at South Carolina for five seasons. His first head coaching job came at DII Lock Haven, directing the Bald Eagles for three seasons. He was named Pennsylvania State Athletics Conference (PSAC) Coach of the Year twice after inheriting a program that went 18-84 over the previous four years. Kanaskie then moved across the state to Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP). In eight seasons at IUP, Kanaskie was named PSAC Coach of the Year twice and voted Basketball Times National Coach of the Year on two occasions. Kanaskie inherited an IUP program that suffered through four straight losing seasons and piloted the Crimson Hawks to seven straight winning records. In 1993, IUP made the PSAC semifinals for the first time in 16 years. In 1994-95, IUP collected its first national ranking in school history (No. 5), secured an NCAA Tournament bid for the first time and advanced to the Elite Eight. One year later, IUP climbed to No. 1 in the country and advanced to the national semifinals. In the fall of 1996, Kanaskie took his first Division I head coaching job at Drake and piloted the Bulldogs for seven seasons. He then left to join the Penn State program, first as an assistant coach under former Nittany Lion skipper Ed DeChellis and later as associate head coach. The Nittany Lions earned three postseason berths and won the 2009 NIT Championship. Kanaskie departed Penn State after the 2010-11 campaign and spent one year as associate head coach at Navy before moving on to Virginia Tech for two seasons. As a player at La Salle, Kanaskie picked up All-Big Five and All-East Coast Conference honors in Philadelphia, becoming the school’s ninth all-time scorer. He was an Academic All-American and was drafted by the NBA’s Golden State Warriors in 1980. Kanaskie completed his Bachelor’s Degree from La Salle in 1980 and earned his Master’s Degree in Business Administration at South Carolina in 1985. A native of Mechanicsburg, Pa., Kanaskie and his wife, Tammy, have three children; a daughter, Kristin Kanaskie Grotewold, and sons, Kevin and Kyle.
Craig Ponder- Assistant Coach
Craig Ponder, who owns UNCW’s record for games played in men’s basketball with 130 appearances from 2011-16, was named an assistant coach in early May of 2021. Ponder returned to the Seahawk bench at Trask Coliseum in 2020-21 as the team's Director of Basketball Operations and was elevated to Assistant Coach by Head Coach Takayo Siddle after just one season. “Craig has been a huge asset to our initial stages of rebuilding the program,” said Siddle. “He has proven himself to be an extremely hard worker and well-connected to our student-athletes. Having him as a coach on the floor and in the recruiting position will do nothing but add to our program in the years to come.” Ponder served as a graduate manager on Kevin Keatts’ staff at NC State before returning to his alma mater. He also worked as a graduate assistant coach at Arkansas State for one year after retiring from professional basketball during a short stint overseas in England. The Bluefield, W.Va., native will assist Siddle and the Seahawks with all facets of the NCAA Division I program, including travel, practice planning, arranging community service and other duties. “Coming back and working at UNCW has always been a dream of mine,” said Ponder. “I'm extremely grateful and honored to be stepping into this new role. This is an unbelievable opportunity to help rebuild a championship tradition at a place that I call home. “I can't say express enough how thankful I am to Coach Siddle and the university for affording me this opportunity, and I look forward to serving our student-athletes, Coach Siddle, and the university relentlessly.” An outstanding guard at Bluefield High School and Hargrave Military Academy, Ponder arrived at UNCW in the fall of 2011 and played in just four games during his freshman campaign before a foot injury cut short his rookie season. After redshirting, he helped the program improve each season and notch a pair of postseason berths. As a junior in 2014-15, Ponder was the only player to start all 32 games and ranked third in scoring (11.6) and second in assists (2.6 apg). He paced the squad with 46 three-pointers, led the team in scoring seven times and reached double figures in 22 contests. The Seahawks picked up their first postseason berth in nine years with an invitation to the play in the CollegeInsider.com Tournament. The Seahawks then captured their fifth Colonial Athletic Association championship in Ponder’s senior year in 2015-16. He opened 24 of 33 games and ranked third on the team in scoring (11.4), while contributing 76 assists. The Seahawks went a sparkling 25-8 overall and 17-4 in the CAA en route to the NCAA Tournament. Ponder’s name remains prominent in UNCW’s record books. In addition to being the school’s all-time leader in appearances, he ranks 14th in scoring (1,160), 42nd in rebounding (338), 15th in steals (15) and 16th in assists (257). Ponder earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Communication Studies from UNCW in 2016.
Paul Hemrick- Assistant Coach
Former Wofford and Gardner-Webb assistant coach Paul Hemrick joins the UNCW men’s basketball staff this season as an assistant coach.
Hemrick, 35, recently finished his third year on the Wofford men's basketball staff after spending six seasons with the Runnin' Bulldogs in Boiling Springs, N.C.
“We’re very excited to welcome Paul to the Seahawk family,” said Siddle. “He has a work ethic matched by few and will be a tremendous asset to our program. Our players, staff and fans will all enjoy working with Paul and meeting his family.”
Hemrick joined the Terriers as a member of Jay McAuley’s staff on April 18, 2019, and, in his first season, helped Wofford post key victories over UNCG and sixth-seeded Chattanooga in the Southern Conference Tournament semifinals. The Terriers have compiled a 53-38 (.582) record over the last three seasons in Spartanburg, S.C.
In 2021-22, Wofford went 19-13 overall and 10-8 in the Southern Conference, earning an invitation to The Basketball Classic postseason event.
"It’s an honor to become part to the Seahawk family,” said Hemrick. “I’m very grateful to Coach Siddle for this opportunity to join this prestigious program and university. I look forward to doing my part to help sustain the championship standard here at UNCW.”
Prior to moving to Wofford, Hemrick served as an assistant coach at Gardner-Webb for six seasons following two years as Director of Basketball Operations for Tim Craft’s club.
He began working at Gardner-Webb in 2013-14 and played a key role in the program’s rise in the Big South Conference standings. Hemrick was a part of 132 wins over seven seasons with a string of six consecutive winning seasons. In 2018-19, the team went 23-11 overall and defeated Radford to win the Big South championship. It was the first NCAA Tournament appearance for the Runnin’ Bulldogs since moving to NCAA Division I in 2000.
Gardner-Webb made two additional postseason appearances during Hemrick’s tenure with the program, hosting a game in the CIT during his final season as Director of Operations in 2013 and traveling to Colorado for a CBI appearance in 2015.
During his two seasons as Director of Basketball Operations, Hemrick had a hand in all aspects of the program, from administrative duties on a daily basis to overseeing the team’s student managers and responsibilities for all video exchange and editing.
The John’s Creek, Ga., native joined the GW staff after spending two seasons as head varsity men’s basketball coach at Westminster Christian Academy in Watkinsville, Ga. He directed the squad to a 17-8 record in his first season, improving the previous year’s win total by eight games. He directed the Lions to a pair of state tournament appearances and had five players named All-Region in two seasons.
Hemrick spent four seasons as a student manager at Georgia from 2005-2009, coordinating film exchange with responsibilities for equipment and filming.
Hemrick graduated from Georgia in May of 2009 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business Administration-Management and a Bachelor of Science in Education-Sports Management. He completed his Master of Business Administration at Gardner-Webb in May of 2013.
He and his wife, Melissa, are the proud parents of Eloise Grace, Joseph Scott and Paxton Houston Hemrick.
Hunter Henderson- Director of Basketball Operations
Wilmington native Hunter Henderson returns to his hometown in 2021-22 to serve on Takayo Siddle’s men’s basketball staff at UNCW as Director of Men’s Basketball Operations. Henderson, 28, spent the 2016-17 season as men’s basketball video coordinator at UNCW before joining Head Coach Kevin Keatts and the NC State program. Over the last four seasons, Henderson served the Wolfpack as Director of Multimedia for two years and Director of Scouting for two years, gaining a variety of experience with the successful Atlantic Coast Conference program. “We are extremely excited to welcome Hunter back to UNCW,” said Siddle. “His familiarity with the university and how we operate will be important as we continue to move the program forward. Hunter’s knowledge, work ethic and passion will be invaluable to our student-athletes.” The Seahawks went 29-6 in 2016-17 and won the second of two straight CAA titles under Keatts. Henderson played an integral role scouting opponents during the Seahawks run to the 2017 NCAA Tournament, their most recent appearance in March Madness. “I am beyond excited and thankful to be back home working for Coach Siddle,” said Henderson. “Having worked with him in the past, I am confident in him as a leader, coach and mentor. His vision and work ethic will bring championships back to UNCW and I am honored to be part of it. “I look forward to serving our student-athletes, staff and University. Let’s get to work!” Henderson was raised in Wilmington and is a 2011 graduate of Coastal Christian High School. He served as an assistant coach at Coastal Christian while attending Cape Fear Community College. Henderson then transferred to N.C. State, where he was a manager for three years with the Wolfpack, rising to head manager in May of 2015. During his time as a student manager at NCSU, Henderson helped the Wolfpack advance to the Sweet 16 in 2015, after reaching the ACC quarterfinal and advance to the second round of the NCAA Tournament in 2014. He worked as the Pack’s assistant video coordinator in 2015-16, assisting the Wolfpack coaching staff with video for scouting opponents. Henderson graduated from NC State in May of 2016 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Sport Management. He and his wife, Taylor, were recently married.
Austin Parker- Video Coordinator
Austin Parker begins his first year as video coordinator for the Seahawk men’s basketball program.
The Clinton, N.C., native is responsible for filming and editing practices and games, preparing scouting report edits for games, assisting the staff with game day edits, creating team and recruiting highlight films and coordinating film exchange.
“I am extremely thankful for the opportunity Coach Siddle has given me,” said Parker. “I am excited to be a part of the culture he has established here at UNCW, both on and off the court.”
Before coming to the coast, Parker served as a manager for the NC State men’s basketball program for two years and then spent two seasons as a graduate assistant for the Wolfpack.
Parker is a graduate of Midway High School. He earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Agricultural Science from NC State in 2020 and completed his Master’s Degree in Youth, Family and Community Sciences at NC State in 2022.
