Interview with NEW Men's Basketball Head Coach David Mullins
1: Tell me about yourself, your playing career/coaching career leading up to coaching here.
I was born and raised in far southwest Virginia so have had the privilege of calling here home my entire life. I grew up a coach's son, so basketball has been a large part of my life for as long as I can remember. Summers were spent in a gym on the travel ball circuit. As a teenager, I played with the Roanoke Jaguars, an AAU team coached by Ron Turner . In 1998, i was invited to play at the AAU National Championships in Memphis, TN for a team based in Martinsville and coached by Tony Jones. We finished 7th in the country that year. Later, my dad, Larry Mullins, started a team based locally where we competed in the YBOA program finishing as National Runner-up in 2000 and 5th in the country in 2001.
I played my high school career at Honaker high school where I was a four-year varsity starter and 1000 point scorer under Trevor Coleman and graduated in 2004. There isn't too much demand for 6'2 centers with bad knees on the collegiate level, so I went to the University of Virginia in Charlottesville where I majored in Economics and graduated in 2007 before returning to Southwest Virginia to work in the financial services industry.
Over the past 20 years, I have coached on the youth, high school and collegiate levels. In 2009-2010, I served as the Associate Head Coach for SWCC on my father's staff where we competed as a charter member of the NJCAA as a Division III School in Region X. We had a successful season finishing as runner up in the regular season and conference tournament that year. Most recently I served as the head coach for JV basketball at Honaker High School in 2020-2022 where our team enjoyed back-to-back district championships.
Today, I own an investment management company in Richlands I started in 2012. I am married to my high school sweetheart, Brittany, and we reside in Russell County with our two boys Cooper and Callen.
2: Why did you start coaching?
I love to teach and I want to positively affect the lives of young people so coaching is a natural outlet. Growing up I watched my dad organize leagues, summer camps, travel teams, and witnessed how the game of basketball fueled his passion. I'm sure some of that passion rubbed off on me. There are few things that allow you to be 100% present and focused in the moment like coaching does. That feeling is a hard one to shake once it grabs you.
3: Why did you choose to coach at SWCC?
I could not be more thankful to Dr. Tommy Wright and Athletics Director Jason Vencill for the opportunity to lead this program. Their vision and commitment to the athletics program at Southwest has been exemplary. SWCC has a rich history of community support and involvement with some of the best faculty and staff you will find anywhere. What has been built here over the past 50 years is second to none within the community college system. My wife received her associate degree here and my mom has worked at SWCC for nearly 30 years. These types of doors don't just magically appear and after much prayer I feel God has opened this door and led me down this path. I am thankful to Him and recognize this as a blessing. I look forward to providing guidance and encouragement to our student athletes during some of the most formative years of their lives.
4: What is a message you would give to someone wanting to join your program?
We are building our program around four cornerstones: Humility, Thankfulness, Servanthood, and Grit. If you are looking for a place to just hoop, we're probably not going to be the right fit. But, if you want to be a part of something bigger than yourself by doing things the right way for the right reasons and striving each day for continuous improvement, on the court, in the classroom and beyond, we should really talk.
5. How do you plan on getting the team involved in the community?
SWCC is not just a community college, it is Our Community's College. As a result, we have a duty to our community to give back and be involved. Serving others is a privilege. We will embrace that privilege and actively engage with our community in ways that reflect the cornerstones of our program. Many hands make light work, and our hands will be involved.
Our mascot is the Flying Eagles and when I think of Eagles they are viewed. Three Vs come to mind when I think of Eagles. First, Eagles are Visible. If you ever see an Eagle in nature, people take notice. Our team will be visible in our community looking for opportunities to actively engage in areas of need while serving as role models for our youth. Second, Eagles are Valiant. You never see an Eagle picking at roadkill beside the road. That's for the buzzards. Eagles are the ones pulling out a 10 lb Salmon out of the river. Making good choices involve choosing the who, where, and what that determines your daily life. Eagles soar valiantly. Our Eagles will do the same and represent the College well. Lastly, Eagles are vigilant. Eagles have an awareness to stay within their circle of genius. They may not swim, but just watch them soar. They know what they can do and do it well. Basketball players with a high basketball IQ are a prized commodity for their awareness and anticipation We want our Eagles to be the same. Be aware, know what you do well for the team, and do it.
6. As a college coach, how do you plan on making sure kids are developing in the classroom as well as on the court?
My mom is an educator, my wife is an educator, my mother-in-law is an educator. If a student is unable to make the right decision when it comes to going to class, how can he be trusted to make the right decision on the court? Study hall is mandatory, but so are weekly check-ins with the professors. SWCC is a tight knit community with everyone looking out for each other. Going to class is a non-negotiable, and accountability check-ins with professors will happen weekly.
7. What would you define as a successful season in your first year as head coach?
Our program will focus on the process and let the outcomes fall where it may. Control what we can control. Show up to class, do your homework, eat right, workout, get up extra shots outside of practice, be a good teammate, serve others. We are looking for kids who want to embrace that culture. If we can set that tone and get the culture right, the season will be a success.