Coach Mock adds final assistant coach from Power 5 level 

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (May 17, 2023) – ETSU women’s basketball head coach Brenda Mock Brown added the final piece to the coaching staff puzzle on Wednesday, officially naming Eric Gracia as an assistant coach.

Gracia comes to ETSU by way of Penn State, where he served two seasons as the Director of Video and Analytics for Coach Carolyn Kieger. In addition to his duties in Happy Valley, Gracia has served as a board member and Vice President of Marketing for the Latino Association of Basketball Coaches since 2020. Upon Gracia’s joining of the LABC, membership grew from 30 to 400 members within a three-month period.

“We are thrilled to welcome Eric into the fold as we continue building this women’s basketball program,” said Coach Mock, who enters her second season at ETSU after winning SoCon Coach of the Year honors in 2022-23. “From our first conversation, I was compelled by Eric’s passion for the game and humble approach to this profession. He has experience with all aspects of coaching and at various levels of women’s basketball. Eric’s work ethic, basketball mind, creativity and ability to relate to people will serve our program well on and off the court. With this hire, our women’s basketball staff is complete and I am beyond grateful to be working a long side this talented, hardworking and fun-loving group of people to serve our student-athletes and this university well.”

Prior to Penn State, Gracia was the head girls basketball coach at North Dallas High School from 2019-21. He spent four seasons prior to that as an assistant before earning his promotion to head coach. In addition to that experience, he served as a video consultant for ESPN analyst Fran Franschilla from 2020-21, creating instructional and pre-draft content for YouTube and social media.

“I am thrilled over the opportunity to join Coach Mock’s staff and be a part of the culture and community at East Tennessee State University,” said Gracia. “Go Bucs!”

A native of Harlingen, Texas, Gracia graduated from the University of Texas Pan-American in 2013 with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice with a minor in sociology. He then received his master’s degree in coaching and sport administration from Angelo State in 2015. 

For more information on Buccaneer women’s hoops, visit ETSUBucs.com and click on the women’s basketball page.