CIAA hoops assistant follows former HC to Division I HBCU staff

Courtesy of UMES Athletics

PRINCESS ANNE, Maryland – After impacting multiple teams as a player, trainer, and coach, Lance Beckwith will join the University of Maryland Eastern Shore men’s basketball program as an assistant coach. With the recent arrival of new head coach Cleo Hill, Beckwith becomes the first member of Hill’s new Division I HBCU staff.

Beckwith brings a wealth of basketball experience to Maryland Eastern Shore. He worked with Hill at Winston-Salem State as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator from 2018 until Spring 2024. The Rams experienced an elite run of success during the period that Beckwith was on campus. In five seasons at WSSU, the Rams won 90 games, took home a pair of Southern Division titles, won two Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) championships, and were the victors of the 2022 Gary Miller Classic, 2023 Chris Paul Invitational, and NBA All-Star x HBCU Classic. For their excellence on the hardwood, Beckwith was recognized as a member of the Coaching Staff of the Year alongside the rest of the Winston-Salem State coaches in both the 2019-2020 and 2023-2024 seasons.

In addition to wins and accolades on the court, Beckwith has excelled at helping student-athletes reach their full potential. With a special focus on developing guards, Beckwith has coached 12 players who have gone on to play basketball professionally. In terms of player accolades, two CIAA All-Rookie players, one CIAA Defensive MVP, six HBCU Boxtorow All-Americans, and five straight seasons of CIAA First Team Selections have all developed under Beckwith’s tutelage at WSSU.

Before joining the Rams’ coaching staff, Beckwith served as a basketball trainer in the Raleigh-Durham area of North Carolina. During his time as a trainer, Beckwith had stints with Team United of the Elite Basketball Youth League (EYBL) and coached Team Wall in the Adidas Gauntlet. He also was the head coach of a 15U basketball team and an assistant coach of a 17U basketball team.

In addition to his coaching background, Beckwith also excelled as a player. He made history at Wake Tech Community College by being the first athlete to sign a basketball scholarship. Beckwith continued his career at the University of Central Missouri where he led the Mules to a pair of Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) regular season championships and a MIAA Tournament crown. During his career, he amassed 1,329 points with 546 rebounds and 344 assists. In high school, he starred at the Word of God Christian Academy where he won a state title in 2008 and was a teammate of NBA point guard John Wall.

Beckwith graduated in 2013 from the University of Central Missouri with a Bachelor of Science degree. He also holds a Master of the Arts degree in Communications.

Off the court, he and his wife, Chaquinta, are the proud parents of a son, Lance Beckwith, Jr.

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