FORT MYERS, Fla. – Florida SouthWestern State College has announced the hiring of David Grace as the next head coach of the Buccaneers men's basketball program.

Grace brings more than 25 years of coaching experience, including 14 seasons at the NCAA Division I level and a nationally recognized reputation as one of college basketball's elite recruiters and player developers. Throughout his career, he has helped lead programs to four NCAA Tournament appearances, three Sweet Sixteen berths, a Pac-12 Tournament Championship, and a College Basketball Invitational (CBI) Championship while developing more than 20 future NBA players.

"David Grace is exactly the type of leader we were looking for to guide our men's basketball program," Long said. "His experience at the highest levels of college basketball, his proven ability to recruit and develop elite talent, and, most importantly, his commitment to building young men of character made him the clear choice. David is a relationship builder, an exceptional teacher of the game, and someone who understands that championships are built through culture, accountability, and servant leadership. We are excited to welcome David, his wife Lisa, and their family to the Buccaneer family."

Grace's coaching résumé includes stops at Vanderbilt, UCLA, California, Oregon State, the University of San Francisco, and Sacramento State, where he worked alongside some of the nation's premier coaches while consistently recruiting and developing high-level talent. His recruiting efforts helped secure multiple Top-5 nationally ranked recruiting classes at UCLA, including the nation's No. 2 class in 2018, while mentoring players such as Lonzo Ball, Aaron Nesmith, Scotty Pippen Jr., Saben Lee, and numerous future NBA Draft selections.

Recognized by his peers as one of the nation's premier recruiters, Grace was ranked the No. 1 recruiter in the West, No. 7 nationally, and later No. 1 recruiter in the Southeast. He was also named one of Silver Wave Media's Top 50 Most Impactful Assistant Coaches in college basketball.

Most recently, Grace served as head coach at Campbell Hall High School in Los Angeles, where he guided the Vikings to consecutive Elite Eight appearances, including the first CIF Southern Section Division I Elite Eight in program history. Prior to that, he led Centennial High School in Arizona to the Final Four while significantly elevating the program on and off the floor. Earlier in his career, Grace transformed South Mountain High School from a four-win team into an Arizona State Champion in just one season, earning Arizona Coach of the Year honors.

Beyond wins and championships, Grace is widely respected for building programs centered on character, discipline, academic success, and community engagement. A retired United States Air Force veteran with 20 years of military service, Grace credits the Air Force's core values of integrity, service before self, and excellence as the foundation of his coaching philosophy.

"I am incredibly honored and grateful for the opportunity to lead the Florida SouthWestern men's basketball program," Grace said. "FSW has established itself as one of the premier junior college programs in the country, and I look forward to building on that tradition. My family and I are excited to become part of the Southwest Florida community. We will recruit high-character student-athletes, develop them both on and off the court, compete for championships, and represent this institution with pride every single day."

Grace's vision extends beyond basketball. Throughout his career he has emphasized player development, academic achievement, community outreach, fundraising, and creating an exceptional student-athlete experience. He believes championship programs are built by developing outstanding people first while maintaining the highest standards of excellence.

With Grace at the helm, the Buccaneers begin an exciting new chapter as one of the nation's premier NJCAA men's basketball programs continues its pursuit of excellence on the court, in the classroom, and throughout the Southwest Florida community.

For more information on Buccaneers Athletics, visit FSWBucs.com.