Josh Clemens welcomes players back to the bench during a Paul Smith’s College men’s basketball game. (Photo provided)

PAUL SMITHS — Josh Clemens, first assistant coach and head JV coach for the Paul Smith’s College men’s basketball team, has been named as the interim head coach for the Bobcats.

Clemens, a Paul Smith’s graduate, has served on the coaching staff as an assistant since 2015. He also played for the Bobcats, earning the team’s Sixth Man of the Year and USCAA Academic All-American awards.

He replaces Dominique Boone, who rebuilt both the men’s and women’s programs when he arrived at the college in 2015. The Bobcats have improved on their previous record each season, capped off by making their first conference tournament appearance in program history in February.

“I would first like to thank Athletic Director Jim Tucker, President Cathy Dove and the rest of our administrative team for giving me this opportunity,” Clemens said. “It has been an honor working with coach Boone over the past four seasons as a player and as an assistant coach. He has given me the ability to grow both as a coach and as a person. I am very excited and honored to continue building this program as we strive towards our goals.”

Clemens has helped recruit more than 30 players into the program, started and developed a JV program at the college, and has been involved in community outreach with local youth.

“I know that Josh has the background, experience and desire to bring the men’s basketball program forward,” Tucker said. “He has learned a great deal about managing a collegiate basketball program while working as an assistant coach.”

Boone, meanwhile, has accepted a coaching position at Warren Wilson College, a private institution in North Carolina.

“I would like to thank Jim Tucker and Cathy Dove for giving me the opportunity and unwavering support to build this program from nothing to where it is today,” Boone said. “I also want to thank my assistant coaches Josh Clemens and Shawn Fredericks for their hard work and dedication to the program and our student-athletes. For our players, I want to say thank you for seeing a vision, believing in it, and helping us carry out that vision.

“Congratulations to Josh and the opportunity he has ahead of him. He is a hard worker and has the potential to be a great coach. I wish him nothing but the best as he continues the upward trend of the program.”