When Northeast Tennessee basketball at the high school or collegiate level ever is discussed, George Pitts’ name is surely to among to topics of conversation with the impact he has left on the sport and the region. The seventh-year head coach of the Tornado and reigning Conference Carolinas Coach of the Year has left behind a storied history that is talked of to this day and continues to impact the lives of young men today.

In just six seasons, Pitts has made his mark at the collegiate level with a program that has enjoyed improvement on and off of the court. In his first four seasons he posted 20-win seasons, combining for an overall record of 97-33. In three years as a member of the Appalachian Athletic Conference, he accumulated a 43-11 record (.796), finishing in the top-2 twice. His best season was in 2007-08 when the Tornado finished 26-8 with a 16-2 AAC mark to finish first in the conference. All three years that King was a part of the AAC, Pitts led the team to a conference tournament championship (2006-09) and qualified for the NAIA National Tournament.

Though King Athletics was making a leap from NAIA to NCAA Division II status, Pitts and the Tornado maintained their success by a fourth straight 20-plus win season, finishing 24-6 overall in 2009-10. In each of the two seasons the Tornado were transitioning to NCAA status they advanced to the NCCAA Division I National Tournament.

After achieving full membership into the NCAA, the successes continued to pour in after his team posted its fifth 20-plus win season in his six years and earned the 2011-12 Conference Carolinas Regular Season Championship. Their title, impressive 23-8 overall record and top-25 ranking achieved earlier in the season helped the Tornado earn an at-large bid to the 2011-12 NCAA Division II Southeast Regional Tournament, the first NCAA postseason appearance in King Athletic history.

On Jan. 31 the Tornado were placed inside the top-25 in the NABC/NCAA Division II national poll for the first time in school history. As the season progressed, Brian Hewitt marked up the King record books by becoming the school’s leader in career steals and on Feb. 18 entered the 1,000-point club after an 18-point night against Pfeiffer. As most George Pitts do, the Tornado made a name for itself by shooting the long ball exceptionally well and finished the season No. 1 in the country in three-point field goals per game, averaging 11.0 per contest. Part of that equation for success included two All-Conference, one All-Region selection, and conference Freshman of the Year Logan Lyle. At season’s end, Pitts was named the 2011-12 Conference Carolinas Coach of the Year after making such an impact on the regional and national scene in just the school’s first year as a Division II member.

In 2010-11, Pitts and the Tornado witnessed a change at the top of the King all-time scoring leader board when Mark Dockery etched his name as the College’s recorded his 1,804th career point against Victory (Tenn.) on March 10, 2011 to take the top spot. Pitts coached three NCCAA All-Mideast Region players, saw Dockery named to the NCCAA All-American team that year and finished third in the NCCAA National Tournament.

Pitts took the reins of the Tornado men’s basketball program in 2006 after a highly successful run of leading championship-caliber teams at Brentwood Academy (Brentwood, Tenn.). Before joining King, he spent nearly 30 years as a coach and administrator in the Tennessee school system.

While with Brentwood, Pitts He spent five years at Brentwood Academy and leading the Eagles to four state titles. He helped BA become the only boys’ basketball team to win four consecutive state championships in Tennessee Secondary School Athletics Association (TSSAA) history. Pitts led the Eagles to state titles in straight seasons between 2003 and 2006. From 2005-2007, Pitts went a combined 73-16 highlighted by a 2005 season where he led the Eagles to a 34-2 (.944) overall and 13-0 league record en route to a state title. That year, Brentwood was ranked 24^th in the nation and second in the state of Tennessee.

For as successful as he was at Brentwood Academy, Pitts’ work at nearby Science Hill High School (Johnson City, Tenn.) may what he is most revered for. He began coaching the Hilltoppers in 1984 and stayed with the school until he began at Brentwood. Pitts led Science Hill to three AAA State Championships (1990, 1994, 1995), 15 state tournament appearances and one runner-up finish (1991).  He also won two Arby’s Classic titles and finished runner-up twice. While at Science Hill, Pitts coached current King assistant coach, Damon Johnson.

Pitts began his coaching career at his alma mater, Young High School (Knoxville, Tenn.) in 1970 as an assistant coach of the boys’ program. Three years later, he was named head coach and led the team to its first and only state tournament appearance in 1976 before the school disbanded. He then transferred to South Young High and led the team to a State Tournament runner-up finish in 1980 before spending three years at Knoxville Bearden High School (1981-83).

In his 30 years of high school coaching experience, Pitts has led teams to a total of 820 wins and only 211 losses. His teams won 15 district championships, 12 regional and sub-state championships, and seven state championships.

Pitts is a graduate of the University of Tennessee, class of 1968. He earned his bachelor’s degree in business and also holds a master’s of education degree from Tennessee Tech. Pitts played collegiately for two years at East Tennessee State University from 1965-66.  He is married to his wife Valerie Renee Ledford and has five children.

! - indicates Appalachian Athletic Conference Member
@ - indicates NAIA Division II National Tournament qualifier
# - indicates NCCAA Division I National Tournament qualifier
^ - indicates transition from NAIA to NCAA Division II
* - indicates NCAA Division II National Tournament qualifier

Entering his fifth season as the assistant coach of the Tornado men’s basketball team, Nick Pasqua is building a name for himself as one of the region’s up-and-coming assistant basketball coaches. After spending four years wearing a King basketball uniform as a player, he patrols the sidelines for both the varsity and junior varsity teams helping build young men that are strong on the court and serve as strong representations of his alma mater.

Last year, Pasqua helped lead the Tornado to a Conference Carolinas Regular Season Championship in its first year as a league member. Behind a 23-8 overall and 14-2 conference record, the Tornado became the first nationally-ranked team in school history since becoming a NCAA Division II institution, reaching No. 25 in the country in the Jan. 31 NABC Coaches’ Poll. He watched as the team earned an at-large berth into the 2011-12 NCAA Tournament, put two players on the All-Conference team, and had one represented on the All-Southeast Region Team. Supporting the philosophy his former head coach and current boss implemented, the Tornado finished No. 1 in the country in three-point field goals per game, averaging 11.0 per contest.

He currently assists in all aspects of the daily operations of the men’s basketball program as well as helping in the area of player improvement. He also serves as the head coach of the Tornado junior varsity team, now entering his third season in that role.

Pasqua spent four years as a player at King from 2004-08 and played his final two seasons for current head coach, George Pitts. In two seasons under Pitts, he compiled a 49-19 record. Pasqua was a four-year starter, was a part of the two AAC tournament championship teams, and the 2007-08 AAC regular season championship team. He was selected to the AAC First Team, AAC All-Defensive Team, and AAC All-Academic Team after his senior season. Pasqua scored 1,300 points and dished out 500 assists during his Tornado career.

He graduated from King in 2008 with a bachelor’s degree in sport management. He is a native of Alcoa, Tenn. and currently resides in Bristol (TN).