Marshall University Athletics
Men's Basketball
- Title:
- Men's Basketball Assistant Coach
- Email:
- clinem@marshall.edu
- Phone:
- 2479
Cline helped coach a program that won Conference USA for the first time ever, beat multiple ranked teams for the first time in Thundering Herd history, have three players earn all-conference honors and win 25 games.
In 2017-18 Thundering Herd vanquished its postseason demons, captured its first Conference USA championship and received a Big Dance berth for the first time in 31 years. What followed elevated a season from unusual to unrivaled, as the Herd became the 28th No. 13 seed in the 34 years since the NCAA tournament expanded to 64 teams (now 68) to defeat a No. 4 seed (Wichita State). That was Marshall’s first tournament win.
The Herd had never defeated multiple Top 25 teams in the same season, as it did in 2017-18, and records fell by the wayside. Cline assisted with a MU team that broke multiple records, including the most points (3,017), most 3s (362) and most assists (615) by a Herd team in program history.
Other on the court honors included Jon Elmore, C.J. Burks and Ajdin Penava combining for six C-USA Player of the Week awards, three all-conference honors, one C-USA Tournament MVP, two all-tournament selections and one Defensive Player of the Year award. It was the second time three Marshall men’s basketball players have been named to all-conference team in the same year since Keith Veney, John Brannen and Sidney Coles accomplished that in 1997.
Off the court, Elmore was named to the All-Academic team to become the second player ever in program history to be selected for the team three different times. The team as a whole also thrived in the classroom, as it had a cumulative 3.22 GPA.
During the 2016-17 season, Marshall reached 20 wins and the Conference USA Conference Tournament final since 2012. Thanks to the team's "hillbilly style" of basketball, the Herd broke several records, including points (2,997) and 3-point field goals made (356), while having the No. 7 scoring offense in the nation.
In 2012, Cline helped coach Marshall to a 21-14, while it earned a bid to the NIT for the first time in 24 years. made the Conference USA Championship game for the first time in school history and the first team ever to do so as a No. 6 seed. Coached by Cline, forward Dennis Tinnon ranked 23rd in the nation in rebounds with 10.0 per game. Tinnon's average was the most by a Herd player in 10 years. He also earned a spot on the All-Conference USA Defensive Team and the C-USA All-Tournament Team. Originally from Williamson, W.Va., Cline returned to the "Mountain State" in 2011 after spending the previous four seasons on the staff at Oklahoma. Jeff Capel's first hire upon arriving at OU, Cline helped guide the Sooners to an 82-51 record, two NCAA Tournaments, a 2009 Elite 8 appearance, and a No. 2 national ranking during his stint in Norman. Cline was the lead assistant at OU and recruited 2009 consensus national player of the year and current NBA all-star Blake Griffin.Cline was as an assistant coach for Virginia Commonwealth under Capel and helped VCU compile a 61-31 record from 2003-2006 which included a trip to the 2004 NCAA Tournament. Cline's relationship with the Capel family dates back to his days as an assistant coach at Fayetteville State where he served under Capel's father, Jeff Capel Jr., from 1989-93. Cline helped convert the Broncos from a team that finished at the bottom of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association's Southern Division to one of the top programs in the league. He also served as the head men's golf coach at Fayetteville State and was twice named CIAA Golf Coach of the Year. He transitioned with Capel Jr., to North Carolina A&T for the 1993-94 season, a year that saw the Aggies claim the Mid-Eastern Athletic Association championship and make an NCAA Tournament appearance. Cline followed Capel, Jr., to Old Dominion where he spent five seasons with the Monarchs. He helped ODU reach the NCAA Tournament in 1995 and 1997. In 1999, the Monarchs tied a school record for wins with 25 and were rewarded with an NIT bid. Cline moved from Old Dominion to Virginia Tech where for four years (1999-2003) he served as an assistant and associate head coach. Cline enjoyed an outstanding playing career at Wake Forest from 1983-1987 (the same span as Tyrone "Muggsy" Bogues) and was a four-year starter. He finished his career with 1,202 points and currently ranks in the top 30 on Wake's all-time list. He averaged double figures over his final three seasons and served as a co-captain the last two. Cline currently ranks 12th in career free throw percentage (179-219, 81.7 percent). The Demon Deacons advanced to the NCAA Tournament's Elite Eight his freshman season.
He began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at his alma mater during the 1988-89 campaign. The two-time West Virginia High School Player of the Year who earned McDonald's and Street & Smith's high school All-America honors, Cline shot .414 from 3-point range during his collegiate career. He is also one of only three players from West Virginia to be named a two-time Parade All-American joining Earl Jones (Mount Hope) and Brett Nelson (St. Albans). Cline, who graduated from Wake Forest in 1988, and his wife Nancy have a daughter, Layla.
