Since the 2014-15 season Catawba College Men's Basketball has been led by Rob Perron, the 12th men’s basketball coach in school history. Although he becomes Catawba’s 12th head coach, Perron will be just the third man to guide the Catawba Indians since 1960. Since taking over a team that was picked to finished 11th out of 12 in his first season, Coach Perron has turned around the program to finish 10th in the Region in 2015-16 and to win the 2019 SAC Tournament Championship, earn an appearance in the 2nd Round of the NCAA Tournament, and finish in the National Top 25 Rankings.
The 2019 Indians also finished with 25 wins, tied for most in the school’s history in NCAA Division 2. Perron has also guided players to 6 All-Conference awards (Jameel Taylor, Marcell Haskett, Jerrin Morrison, KJ Arrington), the 2019 SAC Defensive Player of the Year (Jameel Taylor), the 2019 SAC Tournament MVP (Devin Cooper), and two players in the Top 5 All Time in Career Scoring at Catawba (Jameel Taylor, Jerrin Morrison).
Prior to Catawba, Coach Perron served as associate head coach at Newberry College, Director of Basketball Operations for the Charlotte 49ers from 2006 to 2012, Assistant Coach at Pfeiffer University, and as a Head Coach at his alma mater, St. Andrews University. Coach Perron has helped develop 55 players into professionals throughout his career.
Daniel Waln, regarded as one of the top recruiters in the country, joined the Catawba College men’s Basketball Staff as an Assistant Coach at the start of the 2019-20 season. Waln came to Catawba after successful stints as an Associate Head Coach and an assistant at programs such as West Virginia Wesleyan, Coastal Carolina, and Lees-McRae College.
Throughout his young coaching career, he has recruited one All-American, three Players of the Year, and two Freshman of the Year as well as numerous first and second team all-conference performers.
In his first season, Waln helped Catawba to their second straight NCAA appearance as well as grooming Devin Cooper and Marcell Hasket to record-breaking years on the court. Ranked nationally for most of the season, Waln helped lead an attacking and high energy defense that finished near the top in forced turnovers and steals, while also leading the NCAA in free throws made and free throws attempted. This helped lead the way for Catawba to finish with its second straight 20-win season.
Waln served as an assistant at Coastal Carolina under legendary Head Coach Cliff Ellis in the NCAA D1 Sun Belt Conference. Waln helped groom All-Sun Belt point guard Jaylen Shaw, who averaged 15 ppg for the Chanticleers, while helping CCU earn wins over Iona, Texas Arlington, and South Alabama. He also served as an Associate Head Coach at West Virginia Wesleyan in the powerful MEC, where he helped with the development of Daylin Lee.
At Lees-McRae, Waln was very instrumental in helping the Bobcats, another NCAA D2 school, to the most wins in school history. Hen was a key part of landing big-time talent at Lees-McRae. His 2014, 2015, and 2016 recruiting classes included six three-star recruits and garnered many accolades as the top NCAA D2 recruiting classes in the country. Known for his recruiting prowess, Waln landed some of the east coast's top prep and JUCO players as Lees-McRae's recruiting coordinator.
Waln was responsible for the recruitment of Austin Anderson, who earned 2016 All-American status and Conference Carolinas Player of the Year awards. Throughout Waln’s time at LMC, he brought in one Freshman of the Year and two Players of the Year. He was responsible for recruiting the LMC team that won the Conference Carolinas and broke a school record with 23 wins. Waln is well known throughout the Southeast as being one of the top recruiters of transfers and prep players.
He is a graduate of Appalachian State University.
Jermon Marsh recently completed his 1st season with the Catawba Basketball program leading Catawba to the 2nd best win/loss turnaround in all of Division 2 Basketball. Coach Marsh was instrumental in recruiting and developing the roster that led to the 2019 SAC Tournament Championship and a finish in the National Top 25 Rankings. Through Coach Wall's development, Jameel Taylor earned a 1st Team All-Conference and 2019 SAC Defensive Player of the Year honors, Marcell Haskett earned 2019 2nd Team All Conference Honors and All-SAC Tournament honors, and Devin Cooper won 2019 SAC Tournament MVP. The 2019 Indians also finished with 25 wins, tied for most in the schools history in NCAA Division 2.
Coach Marsh comes to Catawba following 3 season with Davidson County Community College, where they posted an overall record of 87-13 and went to Elite 8 National Tournament twice. In 2016, the team made it the school’s first Final Four appearance ever. Before his stint at Davidson County Community College, Marsh coached one year at Dallas Christian College in Texas, who finished fifth in the nation at the National Tournament in Missouri. At both colleges he has also served as the Strength & Conditioning Coach. He holds four different certifications in Fitness as well.
Marsh graduated from Bemidji State University in Minnesota with a degree in sports management degree. While at Bemidji, he was a scholarship athlete for three years. He transferred to Warren Wilson College for his senior season and earned All-America honors. After college, Marsh had a brief stint as a professional basketball player