Winning at a mid-major isn't just about X’s and O’s. It’s about survival. When you look at the UNC Wilmington basketball coach position, you're looking at a seat that has seen the highest of highs—think Kevin Keatts and Jerry Wainwright—and some pretty rocky lows. Right now, Takayo Siddle is the man in that seat, and honestly, his journey back to Wilmington is one of the more interesting "full circle" stories in the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA). He didn’t just stumble into the job. He was part of the DNA that made the program feared in the first place.
Trask Coliseum is a loud, sweaty, intimate barn of a gym. It’s the kind of place where a coach can either become a local god or find himself looking for a new zip code within three years. Siddle understood that before he even signed the contract in 2020. Having served as an assistant under Keatts during those blistering 2014-2017 years, he knew the "Blue 22" press and the breakneck speed the fans craved.
But taking over in the middle of a global pandemic? That’s a different beast entirely.
The Siddle Era: Why This Hire Actually Worked
Most coaching hires are gambles. You’re betting on a guy who was a great assistant somewhere else, hoping he can handle the "big chair." When UNCW hired Siddle away from NC State (where he followed Keatts), they weren't just hiring a recruiter. They were hiring a philosophy. The UNC Wilmington basketball coach has to deal with a specific set of challenges: a shifting conference landscape, the transfer portal monster, and the reality that if you win too much, the Power 4 schools will come sniffing around your roster every April.
Siddle’s first year was... well, it was 7-10. It was messy. But the turnaround that followed was nothing short of miraculous. Going 27-9 in your second year? That doesn't just happen by accident. Winning the CBI (College Basketball Invitational) title in 2022 put UNCW back on the national radar, and it proved that the "Siddle Way" wasn't just a cheap imitation of what Keatts did. It had its own teeth.
The guy just gets the Port City. You’ll see him at local spots, he’s visible, and he carries himself with a certain level of confidence that rubs off on the players. He’s not a "coach speak" robot. If they play like garbage, he’ll say they played like garbage. If they leave it all on the floor, he’s their biggest fan.
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Turning the Tide in the CAA
The CAA is a grind. You have to fly to Long Island to play Hofstra, then hustle down to Charleston, then maybe up to Boston for Northeastern. It’s a geographical nightmare for a mid-major budget. To succeed as the UNC Wilmington basketball coach, you have to recruit guys who are slightly overlooked but have a chip on their shoulder the size of Wrightsville Beach.
Look at the roster construction over the last few seasons. Siddle has leaned heavily into versatile guards who can defend multiple positions. He wants athletes. If you can’t run for 40 minutes, you probably shouldn't put on the teal jersey.
- Pressure Defense: It’s not just about the full-court press; it’s about making the opponent uncomfortable for every inch of the hardwood.
- Guard Play: Siddle, a former guard himself at Gardner-Webb, prioritizes playmakers who can create their own shots when the shot clock dips below five seconds.
- The Portal: He’s been a master at finding "down-transfers"—guys who went to a high-major, didn't get the minutes, and want to come to UNCW to be the alpha.
Honestly, the 2023-2024 season was a statement. Beating Kentucky at Rupp Arena? That’s the kind of win that stays on a resume forever. It wasn't a fluke. They went into one of the most storied arenas in college basketball and out-toughed a team filled with future NBA lottery picks. That game alone bought Siddle a lot of runway with the boosters.
The Financial Reality of the Port City
Let’s talk money. Because in 2026, you can’t talk about a UNC Wilmington basketball coach without talking about NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness). UNCW isn't Duke. They don't have a bottomless pit of booster cash. Siddle has to navigate a world where his best player might get offered six figures to go play for a middle-of-the-pack SEC team.
Keeping talent in Wilmington is the hardest part of his job. It’s arguably harder than the actual coaching.
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The university realized this and stepped up. Siddle’s contract extensions have shown that the administration is committed to keeping him around. They know what happens when you let a good coach walk for nothing. You end up in a five-year rebuild that kills season ticket sales. By investing in Siddle, they’re essentially investing in the brand of the entire school. Basketball is the front porch of UNCW. When the hoops team is good, applications go up, and the vibe on campus is just better.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Job
There’s this misconception that UNCW is an "easy" place to win because of the beach and the history. It’s not. The facilities are decent, but they aren't world-class. You're competing against schools in the Northeast that have massive endowments. You're competing against Charlotte and ECU for the same recruits in-state.
Siddle’s success comes from his ability to sell a vision. He’s not just selling "come play by the ocean." He’s selling "come here and beat Kentucky." He’s selling "come here and be the reason 5,000 people are screaming your name in a building that feels like it’s about to explode."
It takes a specific type of personality to thrive in that environment. You can’t be thin-skinned. The fans in Wilmington are knowledgeable, and they have high expectations. They remember the NCAA tournament runs of the early 2000s. They expect to be in the conversation for a Big Dance bid every single March.
The Tactical Nuance of Siddle’s System
If you watch a UNCW game, you’ll notice they don't run a ton of set plays compared to some of the "dinosaur" coaches in the league. It’s a lot of read-and-react. Siddle trusts his players. This "positionless" approach is what allows them to stay competitive even when they’re undersized in the paint.
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- Transition Offense: They want to score in the first seven seconds. If they don't, they reset, but the primary goal is to catch the defense before they can set up their zone or man-to-man.
- Deflection Goals: The coaching staff tracks deflections like it’s a primary stat. If they aren't getting their hands on balls, Siddle isn't happy.
- The "Kill" Count: They look for "kills"—which are three consecutive defensive stops. Get enough kills, and you win the game. It’s a simple metric that players buy into.
Looking Ahead: Can the Seahawks Maintain This?
The question hanging over every UNC Wilmington basketball coach is always: "How long until a bigger school steals him?" It’s the curse of the mid-major. But Siddle seems genuinely invested. He has roots here. He understands the rhythm of the town.
However, the CAA is getting tougher. With new additions to the league and the constant shuffling of conference realignment, UNCW has to keep evolving. They can’t just rely on the press. They need to continue hitting on those under-the-radar recruits and keep the "Trask Magic" alive.
If you’re a fan, the best thing you can do is show up. The atmosphere is a massive recruiting tool. When a kid visits Wilmington and sees a packed house on a Tuesday night against a random conference opponent, it makes an impression.
Actionable Steps for the Program’s Future
To keep the momentum going under Takayo Siddle, the focus has to stay on three specific areas that actually move the needle in modern college hoops.
- NIL Retention: Local businesses in Wilmington need to continue partnering with players. It’s the only way to prevent the "poaching" that happens every offseason.
- Facility Upgrades: While Trask is iconic, the practice facilities and weight rooms need to stay competitive with the top-tier mid-majors like VCU or Appalachian State.
- Scheduling Aggression: Siddle has shown he’s not afraid to play anyone. Continuing to schedule "buy games" against blue bloods provides the national exposure needed for an at-large bid, even if it’s a long shot.
The Seahawks aren't just a local story anymore. They’re a blueprint for how to build a sustainable, exciting basketball program in a mid-sized market. As long as Siddle is at the helm, expect a lot of noise, a lot of speed, and a whole lot of wins in the Port City. Keep an eye on the transfer portal entries this spring; who Siddle brings in will tell you exactly how high he’s aiming for the 2026-2027 campaign.