Coach Terrance
T. Chatman

A Career Built on
Development and Discipline

Coach Terrance T. Chatman is a seasoned college basketball coach with over 20 years of experience developing players and building winning programs at both the NCAA and NJCAA levels. A Detroit, Michigan native, Coach Chatman's journey in the game began on the hardwood of his hometown — a foundation that has shaped his player-first philosophy throughout his career.

After a standout playing career at Garden City Community College in Garden City, Kansas — where he earned All-Conference honors in both of his seasons and helped lead the team to the Region VI Tournament Quarterfinal — Coach Chatman went on to earn his Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts from the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) in 2001, playing under Head Coaches Bob Sundvold and Dean Demopoulos.

His coaching career began under the mentorship of the late Charles Knott at Detroit Cody High School, where he served as an assistant for both the boys' and girls' programs from 2002 to 2006. The girls' team achieved a ranking among Michigan's Top-10 Class A programs during his tenure — a testament to the culture he helped build from the very start of his coaching journey.

Coach Chatman's career took a significant leap forward when he joined the staff at Central Michigan University in 2006, where he served under Head Coach Ernie Zeigler for six years. Beginning as Director of Basketball Operations, he was promoted to full assistant coach by 2009. During his time at CMU, the program won back-to-back MAC West Division titles, and he played a key role in developing Trey Zeigler — who set the CMU single-season freshman scoring record with 506 points and earned MAC All-Freshman Team honors — along with 1,000-point club members Robbie Harman and Jordan Bitzer.

From CMU, Coach Chatman's career expanded across multiple conferences and programs. At Alcorn State University, he served as Associate Head Coach for the men's program, guiding the team to a 13-5 SWAC record and a #2 tournament seed. At Florida A&M University — where he has served on staff twice, for both the men's and women's programs — he helped the women's team earn a #4 MEAC Tournament seed and reach the MEAC Semifinals, with Shakerrys Morrison leading the entire conference in rebounds.

As Head Women's Coach at Southwestern Christian College from 2022 to 2024, Coach Chatman demonstrated his ability to transform programs from the ground up — doubling the team's win total in each of his two seasons and elevating seven student-athletes to four-year institutions, including Mya Cotto (University of Arkansas–Little Rock) and Emma-Jo Locks (Northwestern Oklahoma State University).

Currently serving as Women's Assistant Coach at South Carolina State University under Head Coach Baker, Coach Chatman has continued his pattern of immediate impact — helping the program double its win total from the prior season in his first year on staff. His career stands as a testament to perseverance, loyalty, and an unwavering commitment to the student-athletes he serves.