WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — The rich tradition of Irmo basketball is on full display in Winston-Salem.
BJ McKie is a 1995 graduate of the school, while Brooks Savage graduated in 2004. Both men took their own path in the coaching profession but both are now working at Wake Forest as assistant coaches under head coach Steve Forbes.
Savage started his coaching career by working as a student manager at Tennessee where he met future East Tennessee State head coach Steve Forbes, a relationship that would serve Savage well. While at Tennessee, Savage was a part of five Volunteer NCAA Tournament teams in his six seasons. His coaching career began at Northwest Florida State College in 2011. He would then have stops at Presbyterian College and Chattanooga before landing at East Tennessee State under Forbes in 2016.
The all-time leading scorer at South Carolina, McKie didn't start coaching until after his overseas professional career ended. In 2011, his coaching career began when he was hired by former Gamecock assistant Barclay Radebaugh who is the head coach at Charleston Southern. After six seasons in the Lowcountry, McKie was joined the ETSU statf prior to the 2017-2018 season where he and Savage were reunited.
When Forbes was hired by Wake Forest after a successful five-year stint in Johnson City, McKie and Savage followed Forbes to Winston-Salem where both are enjoying their time coaching in the ACC.
Irmo head coach Tim Whipple offered his assessment of both men and how each carved out his own unique path to the Power 5 level. Whipple says Savage was always a cerebral player and that's how he coaches. He notes McKie, who is one of the greatest players to ever play in the Palmetto State, has successfuly figured out how to transfer his knowledge to his players which many times is not the case as not every great player makes a great coach.