https://www.starnewsonline.com/sports/20...o-transfer

UNCW basketball gains coach, loses Linssen to transfer

By Dan Spears

Posted Apr 6, 2020 at 2:59 PM

The Seahawks’ sophomore big man was third on the team in points scored and rebounds last season.

The UNCW men’s basketball program announced its first assistant coach under Takayo Siddle on Monday, then confirmed that one of its few post players would be leaving the program.

Redshirt sophomore Marten Linssen put his name in the transfer portal Monday, the school confirmed. Jeff Goodman of Stadium first reported the news.

Linssen finished last season at 10.5 points and 4.6 rebounds per game, both third best on the team. He had an especially strong finish, scoring in double figures in six of his final seven games, including a 16-point, 13-rebound game in February’s home win against College of Charleston.

He will have two years of eligibility remaining.

His exit means the Seahawks have only two true post players on the current roster: 6-foot-6 sophomore forward Imajae Dodd and 6-foot-7 senior forward John Bowen. Fayetteville native Ian Steere -- a 6-foot-9 forward who started at NC State and then transferred to St. John’s -- has recently shared an image on social media of him wearing a UNCW uniform, but the university has made no official statement.

On the bench, Kurt Kanaskie, who spent the past six seasons as an assistant at Air Force, will join Siddle’s coaching staff.

Kanaskie has been a coach for more than four decades, including a seven-year run as head coach at Drake. His previous Division I assistant-coaching stops include Virginia Tech and Penn State.

“We’re honored and excited to have Kurt as a part of our coaching staff,” Siddle said in a press release. “Kurt has a wealth of experience and knowledge as a basketball coach. He’s exceptional on the court, in recruiting and he’s great at building relationships with players.”