Chris Mack, 37, who is in his fourth year on Sean Miller's staff, returned to Xavier in 2004 as an assistant coach after spending three seasons as an assistant coach at Wake Forest under the late former XU head coach Skip Prosser.

"Chris is ready to become a head coach. He has a great basketball mind and is an excellent recruiter," said Xavier head coach Sean Miller. "Additionally, his background as a former Xavier player gives him a great perspective in relating to our current players. Having played here and been a part of very successful teams, championship level teams, it goes without saying he is somebody that is a part of the Xavier family. His experience as a coach at Wake Forest University where he was a part of an ACC Championship is invaluable to our staff and players. Chris has a gift at being able to both coach and relate to our players. He has done what they are attempting to do - win championships and graduate from Xavier."

The late Prosser praised Mack as well. "Chris was one of the toughest and brightest players I coached during my time at Xavier," said Prosser. "He brings the same competitiveness and love for the game to coaching that he brought to the game as a player. He shows tremendous energy and ability coaching on the floor, recruiting and in the office."

Mack, a two-time team captain as a player at Xavier, was XU's Director of Basketball Operations from 1999-2001. He is a 1992 Xavier University graduate with a degree in communication arts.

Mack's college playing career began at Evansville, where he was a star as a freshman and sophomore. After two seasons with the Purple Aces, Mack transferred to Xavier, serving as a team captain his junior and senior years in 1991-92 and 1992-93. In high school, Mack earned Cincinnati Post Metro Player of the Year and Greater Cincinnati League Player of the Year honors while playing for St. Xavier High School.

After his graduation from Xavier, Mack played for the Athletes in Action team in 1993 and in a European Pro League in 1994. Mack took over as the head girls coach at Mount Notre Dame from 1995-1999 and was named the 1996 Cincinnati Post Coach of the Year.

Mack was born December 30, 1969 in Cleveland, Ohio. He and his wife, Christi, live in Kentucky with their one-year-old daughter, Hailee, and their two-year-old daughter Lainee. Christi was the Director of Basketball Operations for Xavier University's women's basketball team from 2001-03.