Head coach Jeremiah Samarrippas is one of the most successful young coaches in college basketball, coming off a 2022-23 season when he led the Railsplitters to a 30-5 record and appearance in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament. Lincoln Memorial won the South Atlantic Conference regular season and NCAA Southeast Regional titles on its way to the fourth Elite Eight berth in program history. Samarrippas coached First Team All-SAC guards Quay Kennedy and Chase Rankin and Third Team All-SAC guard Me'Kell Burries. Rankin led all of Division II in total assists (250) and assists per game (7.1) on his way to being named All-Region by the NABC and D2CCA and earning mention on the Top 50 Watch List for the Bevo Francis Award given to the player with the finest overall season in small college basketball.
The Florida native's .848 career winning percentage (56-10 record) is third across the entire NCAA among all head coaches with at least two seasons under their belts behind only West Liberty's Ben Howlett (.866) and Nova Southeastern's Jim Crutchfield (.858).
Samarrippas led the Railsplitters to a South Atlantic Conference regular season championship as a first-year head coach in 2021-22, as Lincoln Memorial posted a 26-5 record overall (21-3 SAC) to share the title with Queens. Following the season, he was named the SAC Coach of the Year and the National Association of Basketball Coaches Co-Coach of the Year for the Southeast District. Samarrippas coached All-SAC performers in Rankin (First Team), Burries and Jordan Guest (Second Team), Alex Dahling (Third Team) and Matthew Sells (All-Freshman Team). Guest was voted All-Region by the NABC and D2CCA.
Lincoln Memorial University and the school’s Board of Trustees selected Samarrippas as the men’s basketball program’s 18th head coach, announced on Thursday, April 1, 2021. Samarrippas was promoted to take over the perennial power Railsplitters, who’s basketball rich tradition spans over 100 years, after serving as the longest tenured assistant on former head coach Josh Schertz’ staff. Schertz was named the 26th head men’s basketball coach at Indiana State on Wednesday, March 17, 2021.
During Samarrippas’ time in Harrogate before taking over the reins, the LMU men’s basketball team had seen unparalleled success at the highest level of NCAA Division II basketball. Since being added to coach Schertz’ staff as a graduate assistant prior to the 2014-15 season, the Railsplitters posted a remarkable 197-28 (.876) record, registered five 30-win seasons, reached three Division II Final Fours, won three NCAA Southeast Region championships, claimed six South Atlantic Conference regular season titles and captured three SAC Tournament crowns. Furthermore, LMU went 107-6 (.947) inside B. Frank “Tex” Turner Arena with three undefeated home seasons during that span.
Hired as a full-time assistant following the Railsplitters’ run to the 2016 NCAA Division II national title game and a program-record 34 wins during the 2015-16 season, Samarrippas played a pivotal role in LMU’s recruiting efforts over seven years as an assistant. Throughout his time helping further the national footprint of Railsplitter basketball, Samarrippas has recruited the likes of All-Americans Chris Perry (2017), Courvoisier McCauley (2020) and Devin Whitfield (2021). Additionally, he was key in bringing 2021 Division II Elite Eight All-Tournament Team member and 2021 Division II Southeast Regional Championship Most Outstanding Player Jordan Guest to east Tennessee, along with All-SAC guards Cornelius Taylor and Anthony Brown.
A protégé of one of the most successful college basketball coaches of all-time, Samarrippas has been instrumental in the development of LMU’s guards over the last seven seasons. Under his tutelage, seven of Samarrippas’ guards were named All-SAC since the 2016-17 season, including six of whom claimed all-region accolades.
In addition to his recruiting and guard development responsibilities, Samarrippas has been influential in the team’s practice plans, game strategy, scouting, play calling, scheduling and travel planning. His one-on-one coaching sessions and positional group practices have been invaluable to the Railsplitters’ recent success.
During Samarrippas’ two seasons as a graduate assistant, LMU went 30-3 in 2014-15 and 34-3 in 2015-16. Winning back-to-back SAC regular season championships, the Railsplitters claimed both the 2016 SAC Tournament and 2016 Division II Southeast Regional Championship after going unblemished in league play with a 22-0 record. With Samarrippas in a full-time role, LMU went 30-6 in 2016-17 and reached the Division II national semifinals for the second-straight year after winning the SAC regular season title and its second consecutive Division II Southeast Regional Championship. The 2017-18 Railsplitters once again cleaned house in conference play (20-0) en route to a sixth-straight SAC regular season championship, reaching the Division II Southeast Regional Championship title game after capturing their fourth SAC Tournament crown.
Over the past two seasons, Samarrippas stepped into a larger role as an assistant coach and was LMU’s top assistant for the 2020-21 season. In 2019-20, the Railsplitters had their best season in terms of winning percentage at 32-1 (.970) and went unscathed in conference play (22-0) for the third time in five years while winning their eighth SAC regular season championship and fifth SAC Tournament title. Going 51-5 over the past two seasons, LMU won a program and SAC record 39-straight games from Nov. 2, 2019 – Jan. 6, 2021. Securing their league record ninth SAC regular season title in 11 years and 14th combined SAC championship, regular season and conference tournament, since 2011, the Railsplitters won their third Division II Southeast Regional Championship and reached their third Division II Final Four in the last five NCAA Elite Eight championships in 2020-21.
A 2014 graduate of Tennessee Tech University in Cookeville, Tennessee, Samarrippas was a starting point guard and career 1,000-point scorer at the Division I level. Serving as team captain of the Golden Eagles, Samarrippas averaged 10.4 points, 4.8 assists, 2.5 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game during his senior campaign. He recorded comparable numbers in his first season at Tennessee Tech after transferring from then Conference USA member Southern Methodist University in Dallas. Named to the 2013 Ohio Valley Conference All-Newcomer Team following his junior season in Cookeville, Samarrippas served as the Mustangs’ starting point guard as both a true freshman and sophomore. During his two years at SMU, Samarrippas averaged 7.4 points and 3.4 assists in his inaugural collegiate season before posting 6.9 points, 4.2 assists and 2.2 rebounds as a sophomore.
Upon graduating, Samarrippas turned down numerous professional contract offers to pursue a career in collegiate coaching.
A native of Bartow, Florida, Samarrippas was a heralded recruit after being named Class 5A Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) Player of the Year and finishing third in Florida’s Mr. Basketball voting. A two-time all-state first team selection at Bartow High School, Samarrippas led the Yellow Jackets to a 25-5 record and the Class 5A State Championship as a senior.
Samarrippas received his bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies from Tennessee Tech and earned his Master of Educational Leadership (M.Ed.) from LMU in 2016. He resides in Harrogate.
WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING
“I am incredibly happy for Jeremiah, he’s been an integral part of LMU’s success over the last seven years and is more than deserving of the opportunity to lead his own program. He has a great understanding of LMU, along with being a fantastic recruiter and teacher on the court. LMU has made a terrific hire, and there is no doubt the future of Railsplitter basketball is incredibly bright with Jeremiah leading the way.”
Josh Schertz, Indiana State men’s basketball head coach
“Congratulations to coach Samarrippas and Lincoln Memorial University for naming Jeremiah as the new head men’s basketball coach. I have known Jeremiah since he was a high school senior before coaching him at SMU. He has been a winner and leader at every level, and it will be no different as he takes over the reins at LMU. Jeremiah was one of the smartest players I have ever coached. He sees the game at a different level. In addition, he has a great personality that aided in recruiting good players and building team chemistry. Coach Samarrippas will be a rising star in the world of college basketball. I am so excited for Jeremiah and LMU basketball. Go Railsplitters!”
Matt Doherty, former UNC men’s basketball head coach
“I’m extremely happy for my friend! We came in and evolved together in this business. He’s a stud and was an integral part of the success at LMU over the past seven seasons. I can’t wait to see where he takes this thing! Go Railsplitters!”
Omar Wattad, Lander University men’s basketball head coach
“Jeremiah is one of the smartest players I’ve had the luxury of coaching over my 25 year career. He was a coach on the floor for us at SMU, and he will be a great coach and leader at LMU.”
Pooh Williamson, Oklahoma men’s basketball assistant coach
Last Updated 4/11/23
