In 13 seasons at the helm of the New Haven men’s basketball program, the ninth head coach in the history of UNH basketball Ted Hotaling has taken the Chargers to new heights, reaching the NCAA Division II Elite Eight for the first time in program history in 2023. The Chargers’ historic run through the NCAA East Region Championship included wins over Pace, Caldwell and Bentley en route to the programs first ever trip to Evansville, Ind. and the Ford Center, home to the Division II National Championship.
Hotaling and the Chargers followed up its third 20+ win season under his tutelage with another milestone for the veteran coach in 2023-24 when he secured his 200th career win to become just the second coach in program history to reach the plateau. He now sets his sights on becoming the all-time winningest coach as he stands just 47 wins shy of the mark set by New Haven Hall of Fame head coach Stu Grove (253-177). Overall for his career, Hotaling stands at 206-167 (.552), the third best winning percentage in school history.
Overall, New Haven finished its 2022-23 campaign with a 23-11 record, with the 34 games played the most ever in a single season at New Haven. Also among the highlights following the historic season for Hotaling and the Chargers was Majur Majak who won back-to-back major conference awards as he took home NE10 Defensive Player of the Year again this past season after leading the conference with 105 blocks, the second most in all of NCAA DII. In addition, he was third in the nation with 3.09 blocks per game, while also leading the nation with 408 total rebounds and 9.74 defensive rebounds per game. Overall, Majak was one of three Chargers honored by the NE10 following the season with graduate guard Quashawn Lane on the All-Conference First Team and senior forward Ty Perry on the All-Conference Third Team. Lane also added All-Region honors from both the National Association of Basketball Coaches and the Division II Conference Commissioners Association.
Named the ninth head coach in program history on March 31, 2010, Hotaling has led the Chargers to back-to-back appearances in the Northeast-10 Conference Championship game, a trio of 10 total appearances in the conference tournament under his tutelage. In addition, Hotaling’s teams have earned five bids to the NCAA Division II National Tournament, including the last two seasons.
Highlighting his 196 career victories was a 79-68 win over crosstown rival Southern Connecticut State University on February 15, 2016 which earned Hotaling his 100th career victory at the helm of the Blue and Gold, becoming the fourth coach at New Haven to reach the century mark. Three years later, to the day, Hotaling earned his 150th career victory when the Chargers posted a 72-61 home win over American International. In addition to his .570 winning percentage ranking third in program history, his record of 55-45 through his first 100 contests was the best since 1995.
Under his guidance, Hotaling has led a host of Chargers to postseason accolades and career records marks. Leading that list is Eric Anderson ’15, a two-time All-American (2014, 2015), three-time Northeast-10 Defensive Player of the Year, two-time All-Region and four-time All-Conference performer. Anderson closed out his career at New Haven 14th all-time in scoring (1,551 points) while he also set a school record with 238 career blocks, passing Herb Watkins (191; 1984-88). Overall during his tenure, seven Chargers have joined the ranks of the 1,000 point club, the highest of which is Elijah Bailey who graduated eighth all-time with 1,780 career points. In 2022-23 alone, three Chargers joined the elite group with Lane doing so on New Year’s Eve against Le Moyne and junior Davontrey Thomas reaching the feat in the NCAA regionals against Caldwell.
Anderson is one of 11 different players who all-totaled hauled in 17 All-Northeast-10 Conference honors under Hotaling. In addition, Hotaling’s players have collected six major NE10 distinctions, and five different players have received All-Region honors during his tenure.
In 2021-22 Hotaling led the Chargers back to the NCAA Division II Championship for the fourth time in his tenure, advancing to the East Region semifinal round for the second time in as many appearances. Overall, New Haven closed out the 2021-22 season with an 18-9 overall record and a mark of 13-6 in the Northeast-10, finishing second in the Southwest Division.
Among the individual highlights was Majak’s first NE10’s Defensive Player of the Year honor after leading the team, the NE10 and all of NCAA Division II in blocks per game with an average of 3.1, as he closed out the season with a New Haven single season record of 85 blocks. In addition to Majak, Lane also earned a spot on the NE10 All-Conference Second Team.
In the Chargers return to the court following the CoVID-19 pandemic shutdown, Hotaling led the Chargers to their second-straight appearance in the NE10 Championship game, wrapping up the 2019-20 campaign with a 15-15 record. As the fifth seed in the Southwest Division, the Chargers were road warriors throughout the tournament, with the highlight of the championship coming in the semifinals when New Haven outlasted Stonehill in an instant three overtime thriller 101-100.
The season prior (2018-19), the Chargers finished with a 21-10 record, their third 20+ win season under Hotaling, after earning an at-large bid to their eighth NCAA Tournament appearance. New Haven’s postseason run came to an end against eventual regional champion Saint Anselm, but not before tying their highest win total under Hotaling which was previously set in 2013-14.
The 2017-18 season saw Hotaling lead the Chargers New Haven to the Northeast-10 Conference Championship for a second-straight season and the sixth time in program history. The Chargers earned a bye through the first round before falling to Merrimack in the quarterfinals. Overall, New Haven finished the 2017-18 season with a 17-10 record, the sixth time in the last seven years Hotaling has led New Haven to a winning season.
The Chargers made their fifth appearance in the NE10 Championship under Hotaling in the 2016-17 campaign, closing out the year 15-14 overall. New Haven earned a first round victory over Merrimack 84-58. During the 2015-16 season, Hotaling coached the Chargers to arguably the biggest win in program history when New Haven knocked off crosstown rival Southern Connecticut State. The Blue and Gold led the Owls for all but six minutes as they defeated the No. 2 ranked team, according to the NABC Coaches Poll, 79-66.
In 2014-15, Hotaling led the Chargers to their fourth-straight winning season, closing out the year with a 15-12 overall record. Among the highlights was senior Eric Anderson who was named Northeast-10 Defensive Player of the Year for a third-straight season, the first time in NE10 history a player has earned the top defensive accolades three years in a row. Anderson was also a repeat member of the NE10 All-Conference First Team and stands as the only Charger to earn first team honors. In addition, Anderson was named a Daktronics/Division II Conference Commissioners Association Third Team All-American and signed a contract to play with the Gladiators Trier in Germany’s Basketball Bundesliga ProA League following the season.
Statistically, Anderson led NCAA Division II in rebounds per game (13.1) and defensive rebounds per game (9.85). He was also among the top-10 in the nation in double doubles (8th) and total rebounds (5th).
Hotaling’s 2012-13 and 2013-14 teams finished with back-to-back 20-win seasons for the first time since 2002-03 and 2003-04, while also earning back-to-back appearances in the NCAA postseason tournament. Hotaling’s 21-9 record in 2013-14 stands as the most wins in a single season under his leadership, while the Chargers’ 14-6 record in the NE-10 that season was the second-best since joining the conference in 2008-09. That squad led the nation in personal fouls per game (13.6), while the Chargers ranked second in Division II in fewest turnovers per game (8.9). New Haven also ranked in the top 10 nationally in scoring defense (6th) and field goal percentage defense (9th).
Individually, Hotaling mentored Anderson to NE10 Defensive Player of the Year and All-America Honorable mention recognition - the first such mention for New Haven in 24 years. Anderson finished his junior season leading the Northeast-10 Conference and second in Division II in defensive rebounds per game (8.97). He also ranked third in the nation with 20 double-doubles.
In 2012-13, Hotaling led the Chargers to a 20-9 record – their first 20-win campaign since 2003-04. New Haven reached the NCAA postseason for the first time since 2004 and earned its first win on the national stage since 2003 with a victory over Dominican in the NCAA Division II East Region Quarterfinals.
That season, Hotaling’s Chargers led the NE10 and ranked 10th nationally in fewest turnovers committed per game (11.0) and slotted at 13th in the country in scoring defense with an NE10-leading 61.1 points per game allowed. New Haven also finished second in the conference and 38th in Division II in free throw percentage (74.3). Individually, Anderson earned his first NE10 Defensive Player of the Year honor, finishing second in the nation with 18 double-doubles while ranking third with 12.0 rebounds per game and ninth in blocked shots at 2.45 per game.
Hotaling led the Chargers to a 15-13 record in 2011-12 - a seven-win improvement from the previous campaign and the club’s first winning season since 2004-05. New Haven also qualified for the Northeast-10 Conference Championship, winning a First Round contest at Pace before falling in a 54-51 heartbreaker at Adelphi in the Quarterfinals.
In his first season as head coach, the Chargers posted an 8-18 overall mark and a 6-16 record in the Northeast-10 Conference. Throughout the season, New Haven ranked among the top three-point shooting teams in Division II. Freshman Justin Exum concluded the season ranked 17th nationally in three-point field goals per game. He was also the highest ranked freshman in that category. As a team, UNH ranked 31st in three-point field goal percentage and 32nd in three-point field goals per game.
With over 15 years of college coaching experience, Hotaling most recently spent five seasons as an assistant at Eastern Kentucky University. While at EKU, the Colonels enjoyed a number of record-setting seasons, including two postseason runs. Hotaling’s main responsibilities at EKU included working with the guards and coordinating the program’s recruiting efforts.
In 2007, the Colonels earned a berth to the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship tournament. EKU was selected to the College Basketball Invitational this season after amassing a 20-11 regular season record. The Colonels were one of the best offensive teams in the country during Hotaling’s tenure as well. In 2010, EKU ranked in the top 10 in three-point field goals made, turnovers per game and assist/turnover ratio. The Colonels also broke the Ohio Valley Conference record for three-pointers made in back-to-back seasons (2008-09 and 2009-10).
Prior to arriving at Eastern Kentucky, Hotaling served four years as a full-time assistant at Yale University from 2001-05. He also served one season as an assistant at UNH in 2000-01. The Niverville, N.Y. native began his coaching career at Adelphi University in 1998 where he spent one season as an assistant.
Hotaling earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from University at Albany in 1995 and later earned his master’s degree from Adelphi University. In the fall of 2012, he was inducted into the University at Albany Great Dane Hall of Fame as both an individual student-athlete and as a member of the 1993-94 men’s basketball team that advanced to the NCAA Division III Elite Eight.
After graduating from Albany he went on to play professionally in Europe for the Cardiff Phoenix Basketball Club in Cardiff, Wales, and the Plymouth Rotolok Raiders in Plymouth, England.
Hotaling and his wife, Keely Garden, have two children – Owen and Susan.
