A Legacy of Achievement: Exploring Anderson University Basketball History

Anderson University, a private institution rooted in a rich history dating back to the 19th century, has evolved into a dynamic center for higher education in Anderson, South Carolina. From its origins as a women's college to its current status as a comprehensive university offering a wide range of academic programs and athletic opportunities, Anderson University has consistently strived to nourish humanity through the cross, as reflected in its Latin motto, "Humanitatem per crucem alere". This article delves into the basketball history of Anderson University, tracing its evolution and highlighting key moments and figures that have shaped the program.

The Genesis of Anderson University

Anderson University's story begins with one of the earliest institutions of higher learning for women in the United States. The institution was founded by the Reverend William B. Johnson. However, the Civil War led to its closure. A new generation later revived the initial vision. In 1910, driven by a desire to establish a higher education institution in Anderson, public-spirited citizens offered 32 acres of land and $100,000 to the South Carolina Baptist Convention. The South Carolina General Assembly granted Anderson College a charter in 1911, following the Convention's nomination of a group of trustees. The college opened its doors in 1912. It operated as a four-year college for women until 1930. The South Carolina Baptist Convention approved the institution's transition to a junior college in 1929, making it the first in the state. In December 1989, the Board of Trust decided to reinstate the College's four-year status, starting in the fall semester of 1991. The first graduate program commenced in 2004.

From College to University: A New Era

Anderson College was renamed Anderson University in 2006, marking a significant milestone in its history. This transformation reflected the institution's growth and expansion of its academic offerings. On the occasion of the first commencement as Anderson University, S. Truett Cathy, founder of Chick-fil-A, and his son Dan Cathy received honorary degrees. The degrees were awarded for "exemplifying the character and vision Christian businessmen should possess".

Campus Evolution and Expansion

The physical landscape of Anderson University has also evolved significantly over the years. The Merritt Administration Building, Denmark Hall, and Pratt Hall were the original buildings on the Anderson University campus, being built at the time of the university's founding in 1911. Most of the buildings on the main campus are red brick, built throughout the 20th century in the Georgian architectural style. The front lawn, known as "Alumni Lawn" (or the "Sacred Six" acres), is heavily wooded with large oak trees, as is the interior of the main campus, which is landscaped in a series of rising terraces. In 2008, the university purchased the nearby Anderson County Fairgrounds, encompassing 77 acres, and received a gift of 125 adjacent acres on the Rocky River from John and Marie Pracht. These acquisitions quadrupled the campus acreage from 68 to 270. The Fairgrounds property is being transformed into the university's Athletic Campus. Facilities include a swimming pool, tennis center, softball stadium, soccer stadium, intramural gymnasium, and practice fields with plans for the addition of a baseball stadium, track, fitness center and field house, and athletic administration facility. The Pracht property includes 40 acres of healthy wetlands. Subsequently, the university joined with other wetlands property owners to form the Rocky River Conservancy. The combined properties are being developed into a protected ecological park with trails, boardwalks, and discovery center. Anderson University created a special partnership in 2012 which operates within the former Duke Energy Service Center which is approximately one mile from the main campus and which was a partial gift to the university from the former Duke Energy Carolinas (now Duke Energy Progress). The facility is the home of the university's graduate program in criminal justice otherwise known as the Command College of South Carolina. In 2013, the university acquired the first floor of the historic Chiquola building in downtown Anderson, less than a mile from the main campus. The 11,000 square foot facility is a multi-purpose space for the university's graphic design degree program, student activities, and a center for the study and practice of entrepreneurship.

Academic and Extracurricular Pursuits

Today, Anderson University offers a diverse range of academic programs across various colleges and schools. Undergraduate programs under the College of Arts and Science consist of biochemistry, biology, communication, creative writing, English literature, writing and digital studies, history, liberal studies, mathematics, political science, psychology, and Spanish. The Center for Undergraduate Cancer Research is also part of the college and was established in 2009 to facilitate undergraduate research in search of a cure for cancers. The College of Business offers both undergraduate and graduate programs. The Clamp Divinity School was launched in 2009 and offers graduate degree programs: Master of Divinity (M.Div.), Master of Ministry (M.Min.), Master of Ministry Management (M.M.M.), Master of Arts in Biblical and Theological Studies (M.A.B.T.S.), Doctor of Ministry, and the Doctor of Philosophy in Leadership (ministry track). The purpose of the Clamp school is to offer training in ministry in preparation for leading churches. The school is named after David T. The College of Education prepares students to become public educators. Undergraduate programs consist of early childhood education, elementary education and secondary education. Upon completion of the undergraduate program the teacher licensure can be initiated through South Carolina Department of Education. The School of Nursing, School of Physical Therapy, School of Allied Health, and the School of Human Performance comprise the College of Health Professions. The schools offer undergraduate programs in nursing, kinesiology, and human services. The School of Public Service and Administration educates law enforcement officers, private investigators, federal agents and prospective law students. The school also offers programs in emergency management. Undergraduate programs prepare students for the local, state and federal law enforcement, corrections and emergency response. In 2013, the College of Visual and Performing Arts was re-organized as The South Carolina School of the Arts. Degree programs and emphases within the school include Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Fine Arts, Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Music Education, and Master of Music Education. The school is housed primarily within the Rainey Fine Arts Center which features a 1,000-seat performance hall, a 225-seat recital hall, a 125-seat black box theatre, music and art studios, and an art gallery. The Johnny Mann Center is the home of The South Carolina School of the Arts' degree program in commercial music. Commercial music at Anderson University includes pop, rock, jazz, bluegrass, and country music genres. Anderson University boasts a lively campus atmosphere with dozens of organizations ranging from Baptist student groups to academic and service organizations.

Read also: UCLA Anderson Guide

Trojan Athletics: A Rising Force

The Anderson University Trojans compete in NCAA Division II athletics as a member of the South Atlantic Conference. Always a regional leader in NCAA Division II, Trojan Athletics has taken a quantum leap forward in recent years. The University competes in a variety of sports, including men’s and women’s basketball; men’s and women’s golf; men’s and women’s soccer; men’s and women’s tennis; baseball; volleyball; softball; cross country; and men’s and women’s track and field. In 2021, men’s lacrosse became the 19th athletic program, which was followed in 2023 with women’s lacrosse and, in 2024, football. Anderson announced the addition of football starting in the 2024 season. Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, soccer, tennis, track & field, and lacrosse.

Men's Basketball: A Glimpse into Recent Success

In recent years, the Anderson University men's basketball program has experienced a period of remarkable success. This success can be attributed to a combination of factors, including strong leadership, talented players, and a cohesive team culture.

The Collins Era: A Turning Point

August 2022 marked a significant turning point for the Anderson University men's basketball program. Hours before, Collins was the surprised one as former head coach Owen Handy told him he was departing the program and that Collins would be named the interim head coach. According to Collins, he had zero idea that was coming. Forward Tate Ivanyo, who was entering his sophomore season at the time, said that they were all shocked. By March 2024, those questions have been emphatically answered with success the program hasn’t seen since Eisenhower was in office. The direction: new heights. The change: a larger trophy case needed. The Ravens, who had only won one regular season conference title since joining the HCAC in 1988, have now entered the most successful run in program history since the 1950s, and they’ve done it with continuity and unselfishness. When asked to define the culture of the program, Collins doesn’t label it. However, it did work out that way for Collins and AU, and the Ravens were set to be favorites rather than a surprise story.

Team Culture and Unselfishness

According to Ivanyo, there aren’t many egos going around in the locker room. He said that the coach talked to the team a lot about egos coming off a championship season. He added that sometimes guys can feel like they’re on a platform now that they’ve done something, but they haven’t really experienced any of that. This is one of the few teams Ivanyo has ever been on where everyone gets along and cares for each other. Of course, they all want individual success, but that is not the priority.

Player Development and Commitment

Kenney Troutman’s introduction to AU basketball was that August 2022 meeting when he found out that Collins would be his coach instead of Handy. Collins told Troutman he would need to work to improve in the offseason to break into the rotation, which was returning everyone from the year before. According to Troutman, he did a lot of maturing over the summer of 2023 and he knew what kind of team they had coming back. Ivanyo said that Kenney hardly played his freshman season, but he was a big energy guy. He added that coming into his sophomore year he had made tremendous improvements across the board to his game. Troutman’s unselfishness and realization that he was a part of something bigger than himself are qualities Collins has been able to find in each player on his roster.

The Secret Sauce: Recruiting and Retention

It’s May 2024, and Collins is in his office as the quietness of the summer has settled upon AU’s campus. There are still a few recruiting holes to fill for the 2024-25 campaign, and his phone buzzes every now and then during the interview for this story. Collins asks what his secret sauce is and why are players willing to stay. Collins said that you’re seeing transfers out of every program in college basketball and that they’ve been immune to that over the last five years at AU. He added that this shows that they’re upfront about who they are as a program and university in the recruiting process and that people who go through the recruiting process and come here generally leave pretty happy. August 2022 isn’t all that far off in the rearview mirror, but the shock is gone. Collins is here to stay.

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