Jay Powell is in his fourth season at the helm of the Gulf Coast Community College's Men's basketball program. In his first season, the Commodores reached a new level of success by winning 18 games and finishing 3rd in the Panhandle Conference. Also, all 6 sophomores on the 2007-2008 team went on to four year schools on scholarship to play basketball and obtain their degree. Coach's take on the first year, "The idea to come in to Gulf Coast and have success on and off the court in year one was a lofty goal. The men worked hard on the court and in the classroom, though. I thank them for following my lead, and I look forward to continuing to improve this program." Three men from the team went on to Division 1 schools off of the 2007-2008 team.

The 2008-2009 season went very well for the Commodores. The team finished 24 and 9 and in 2nd place in the Panhandle Conference for the year. The team also made the state tournament for the first time in 10 seasons. While at the state tournament, the team won two games against nationally ranked teams and finished State Runner-Up. Three of the men went on to Division 1 schools and Marquis Gilstrap was named to the NJCAA All-American Team.

2009-2010 was a season that ended well despite several injuries that could have deflated the team. The team finished 18 and 11 and finished 3rd in the Panhanlde Conference. The team had seven men go on to Division 1 schools. Over the three years, that raises the total to 13 Division 1 players that have come out of Gulf Coast Community College. Also, 16 out of 19 sophomores have graduated from GCCC.

Jay Powell was named Gulf Coast Community College's 16th men's basketball coach in April of 2007. He became the head coach after one season as an assistant for Coach Jim Hatfield at GCCC. "I truly appreciate Coach Hatfield giving me the opportunity to come work for him at Gulf Coast. That year allowed me to lay a foundation with people at Gulf Coast Community College that proved to them I would be a great fit for what the program needed. We are solid with our character, academics, and athletics." Coach Hatfield and Coach Powell worked together at Murray State University, also. Both worked under Tevester Anderson, now the head coach at Jackson State University in Jackson, MS. During those three years, Powell was the student assistant/head manager, and the Racers won two of three Ohio Valley Conference Championships from 2000 to 2002.

Prior to Gulf Coast, Jay Powell was the head coach at Horn Lake High School in Horn Lake, MS for two seasons. "The years at Horn Lake were wonderful. I was able to lead a program. The players were a blessing to be around, and so was the community. The teams built a lot of excitement about basketball with camps, tournaments, and student body involvement, and I think it has and will continue to carry over for a while in that community. I still really enjoy staying in touch with those guys I coached at Horn Lake."

The two seasons before Powell went to Horn Lake, he was an assistant coach under Coach Doug Lyles at the high school he attended, Marshall County High in Benton, KY. "The memories of playing and coaching at MCHS are something else. There are not many places in the world you can have a gym with 6,000 people fired up about a high school basketball game. Being reared in that mindset was good for me because it allowed me to figure out early how important basketball was to people, and how important coaches are to young men."

Jay, his wife Kara, son Gannon, and daughter Jaelynn live on Panama City Beach. Kara is a 1st grade teacher at a local elementary school. Gannon is 11 and Jaelynn is 7.

Phone

850-747-3235

Odell Witherspoon is entering his second season as an assistant coach at Gulf Coast Community College. Coach Witherspoon's responsibilities include: scouting opponents, coordinating recruiting efforts, player development, film exchange, and monitoring the team's off the court activities.

Coach Witherspoon spent the 2008-2009 season as an assistant coach at The Patterson School in Lenoir, NC. He worked under Chris Chaney, one of the most successful prep school coaches in the country. The team finished with a record of 34-3 and the #1 ranking in prep school basketball. The team had 8 players continue their careers at four year institutions. 6 of them at the Division 1 level.

Coach Witherspoon has also spent the summers with Team United (formerly the United Celtics). One of the best programs on the summer circuit. The program is based in Charlotte, NC. His duties included coaching, basketball operations, and acting as a mentor to many of the youth in the program. During his professional career, Coach has worked on the sports management side of basketball. He has dealt with professional athletics and is experienced in that field.

Coach Witherspoon is a native of Charlotte, NC and also graduated with a B.A. in Communication Studies from UNC Charlotte.

Coach Powell's take on Coach Witherspoon, "I am excited we were able to bring someone in like Odell Witherspoon. His knowledge and enthusiasm are tremendous assets to our program. He is going to help us continue to win a large number of basketball games."

Phone

850-873-3568

Jonathan Murner joins the Gulf Coast Community College men's basketball coaching staff this season. Jonathan played basketball here at GCCC for Coach Powell during the 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 seasons. During the two seasons, Gulf Coast finished 3rd and 2nd in the Panhandle Conference standings, and the Commodores were state/region VIII Runner-up in 2009. Jonathan started all 33 games for the Commodores during the 2009 season averaging 9 points per game and shooting 44% from the 3 point line.

Coach Powell's take on Jonathan coming back to work for him, "I am so happy that Jonathan came back to work with us, and he is here to help the continuous improvement of the men's basketball program. He is possibly the best person I have ever coached, and he is the smartest basketball player I have coached here at Gulf Coast. I believe that both qualities will allow Jonathan to be a great coach, and those qualities will help the Gulf Coast Community College men's basketball program tremendoulsy."

Jonathan is married to Tamara Murner, previously Tamara Childers, of Panama City. They reside in Panama City.

Norris Harvey continues his service to Gulf Coast Community College under head coach Jay Powell. Coach Harvey is originally from Fayetteville, NC and graduated from Fayetteville State University in 1980. Upon completion of his degree, Coach Harvey obtained a Master's Degree in Mathematics Education from Jackson State University in Jackson, MS. Coach Harvey spent 9 years at Florida A&M University in Tallahassee before coming to Gulf Coast Community College where he has spent the last ten years.

Coach Harvey assists in all aspects of the men's basketball program. "Coach is the type guy you want your son to be around. He does right, expects young men to do right, and is fun at the same time," says men's head coach Jay Powell, "We are very fortunate to have someone like Norris on our staff and a part of our college."