Jeff Brookman, a native of Charlotte, NC, is entering his third season as head coach of the Pioneers' men's basketball team after leading SMC to a Region X Regular Season Championship, a Region X Tournament Championship and an appearance in the 16-Team NJCAA National Tournament for the first time since 1999. The Pioneers made an elite eight appearance in the National Tournament by holding off perennial Junior College power Three Rivers in the first round 61-58.

In just his second year, Brookman, led the Pioneers to one of the best seasons in school history after finishing 29-7 overall and 12-2 in Region X. For his efforts, Brookman was named Region X Coach of the Year and District 10 Coach of the Year.

Brookman has an overall record of 48 wins versus only 18 losses in his first two seasons at Spartanburg Methodist College. In his rookie campaign as a head coach, Brookman, led the Pioneers to a 19-11 overall record and a 5-7 Region X record. The Pioneers made an appearance in the Semi-Finals of the Region X Tournament before losing to eventual champion Cape Fear.

Brookman came to SMC from Anderson University, where he served as Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach and Recruiting Coordinator from 2006-2008 and then as Associate Head Coach in 2009-2010. During the 2009-10 season at Anderson, he helped lead the program to a 24-8 record and an appearance in the NCAA Division II Southeast Region Semi-Finals. The 24-8 record is the best win/loss total in school history.

Brookman started his coaching career in Switzerland where served as the head coach for the Sarnen Basketball Club, which consisted of six teams, for two years. 

After completing a three stint playing and coaching in Switzerland, Brookman returned to his alma mater, Belmont Abbey, for the '01-02 season as an assistant coach under current Augusta State head coach Dip Metress. He helped lead the program to a 24-6 record, a CVAC regular-season title, a CVAC tournament title and an appearance in the East Regional semi-finals.

From '02-05, Brookman served on the staff at Radford University as an assistant coach. His duties there included recruiting, player development, scouting and film exchange. During the '02-03 season, the Highlanders made it to the Big South Tournament Championship game.

He returned to the Charlotte area in ’05 as an assistant coach for the ABA’s Charlotte Krunk. During his time with the Krunk, Brookman had the opportunity to work with a number of great players who are currently playing professionally all over the globe. He left the Krunk in January ’06 to join the staff of the Charlotte Royals, a 17-and-under AAU team that sent eight players to Division I schools.

Brookman enjoyed a four year playing career at Belmont Abbey College from 1994-98. He was named the Carolinas-Virginia Athletics Conference Freshman of the Year after the ’94-95 season, honorable mention All-Conference and was a two-time team MVP. During his time at Belmont Abbey, Brookman scored 1,443 points, which puts him 14th on the all-time scoring list at Belmont Abbey. He also ranks second on the Belmont Abbey career list for 3-point field goals made with 266 and shot 40% for his career from three.

Brookman was also a member of the '97 Belmont Abbey soccer team that won the CVAC regular season championship. He led the team in scoring and was also named to the All-Conference and All-Tournament teams.

After finishing his career at Belmont Abbey, Brookman played in the Switzerland Professional League from ’98-00. During the 1999-2000 season, he averaged 24.5 points per game while being recognized as one of the best foreign players and three point shooters in the league while playing for both Ruessbuhl and Viganello.

Brookman was inducted into the Charlotte Catholic High School Sports Hall of Fame in February '07. He graduated cum laude with a B.S. degree from Belmont Abbey College in '97. He finished his Masters degree in sports management from the United States Sports Academy in December 2008. He resides in Mauldin, S.C. with his wife Rachel, who is a teacher at Palmetto Elementary School in Williamston, SC. They are the proud parents of a son, Parker (1 yr).

Bob Milligan enters his fourth season as part of the Pioneers coaching staff.

Milligan has been coaching for 32 years, with 20 of those at the at the South Carolina School for the Deaf and Blind. He served as the SCSDB’s head coach for 10 years and won the most games in the history of the school. In his time as head coach he won the Mason Dixon Tournament, the biggest and oldest tournament for the hearing impaired in the United States, twice and finished in second place three times. His teams set the record for the most wins in a season. In his final year at the school, his team was ranked No. 1 in the nation. He has also had the privilege of coaching eight hearing impaired All-Americans.

“Coach Milligan has forgotten more about the game of basketball than I know,” said SMC head coach Jeff Brookman. “He has a true passion for coaching and for our players. I am happy to have him as part of our coaching staff.”

Milligan’s responsibilities with the SMC Pioneers include assisting with all preseason workouts and practice, statistical data of all games and preseason open gyms and game day preparation.

John Prioleau, a native of Charleston, SC, enters his fifth season as part of the Pioneers coaching staff.  Prioleau joined the Pioneers coaching staff after successful playing careers at SMC from 2004-06 and Limestone College from 2006-2008.

In 2006, Prioleau helped the SMC basketball program reach the Region X tournament where the Pioneers lost at the last second in the championship game to become runners-up in the region. That season Prioleau averaged 10.9 points, 6.2 assists, and 8.6 rebounds per game.

After an outstanding career at SMC, Prioleau took his talent to Limestone College. In 2007, he helped lead the Saints basketball program to their best record in school history (20-9). During the 2007-08 season, Prioleau was named the team’s most valuable player.  

“I am very excited to have the opportunity to work with Coach Prioleau ” said SMC head coach Jeff Brookman. “He was a great player at SMC and Limestone.  JP played with a lot of heart and passion. No one outworked him on the court. He is a great addition to our program and the SMC community and has a great future ahead of him”

Prioleau’s responsibilities include assisting in all preseason workouts and practices, developing weight room workouts and game day preparation.

Prioleau graduated from Limestone College in with a degree in Business Mangement/Administrative. He currently resides in Spartanburg, SC