Interview with Central State Head Men’s Basketball Coach Joseph PriceCoach Price has served as the head men’s basketball coach at Central State since the summer of 2014.
Price began his collegiate coaching career as an assistant at IUPUI in 2002. He helped the Jaguars to the NCAA Tournament for the first time ever. At IUPUI, Price’s primary role included player development, opponent scouting and recruiting post players development. While at IUPUI, Price helped in the development of numerous players including 2003 Mid-Con Player of the Year Odell Bradley and George Hill of the Indiana Pacers.
In 2007, Price joined the staff of Ball State University, where he helped the Cardinals win the Mid-American Conference West Division in 2008-09. Price, who is known as an outstanding recruiter, helped Ball State sign one of the top 80 classes in the country that season.
Following Ball State, Price went on to assist at Morehead State University. Price, who was involved in all aspects of the MSU basketball program, helped the 2011 Eagles match the highest single-season win total in school history. During that season, Price worked with another future NBA star in forward Kenneth Faried, who went on to be named an AP 3rd-Team All-American and was the National Defensive Player of the Year before being drafted by the Denver Nuggets.
In the 2011-2012 season, Price went to Lamar University to join Pat Knight’s staff. Price and the Cardinals enjoyed immediate success, going 23-12 overall and earning a spot in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2000. It was the team’s first 20-win season since 1988.
After Lamar, Price spent the 2012-13 and 2013-14 season as head coach at Grambling State University. During his tenure, Price led a program hampered by serious NCAA sanctions, including limited scholarships, practice time, recruiting restrictions and a postseason ban into full eligibility in just two years. At GSU, Price built a strong foundation with a commitment to academic and athletic excellence by facilitating a strategic progress plan, bringing in new recruits and emphasizing the core values of great character, pride, hard work, and respect.
While the team overall record suffered the first year, Price’s first recruit, Terry Rose was named SWAC Freshman of the Year. Significant gains were made in the following year as the Tigers advanced into the second round of the conference tournament in 2014 and player Antwan Scott was named SWAC First Team All-Conference.
In his first season at CSU, Price led the team to an 18-12 mark, the best record by a first-year CSU head coach in over 60 years. Four years later, he coached the team to its first SIAC West Division title in 2018. While at CSU, Price has developed four HBCU All-Americans and seven all-conference selections.
As a player, Price has experienced success at the high school, college, and professional levels. After a stellar prep career at Marion High School in Marion, IN., Price played four seasons at Notre Dame for coach Digger Phelps. Price helped the Irish to a combined record of 84-37 over four seasons, including a runner-up finish at the National Invitation Tournament during his sophomore season.
Following his senior season, Price was a 7th round draft pick of the Washington Bullets.
Price spent 13 seasons playing professionally overseas, with stops in France, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, and Spain. Price helped St. Prex win the 1988 Switzerland Second Division League-B Championship.