Basketball Alum Hired to Admissions, Hopes to Help Team

Antoine Hart poses in his office for undergraduate admissions. (Photo Credit: Ash McDaniel)

Former Colonial basketball player Antoine Hart was ready to leave the D.C. area. His car was packed, and he was already down the road. Then GW came calling. Literally.

The 6’7” men’s team alum had just closed up shop on his home loan career and was looking for a new start. He had searched for a job for months up and down the east coast, even shooting his resume to his alma mater, but nothing came his way. On the day he was set to move back home to New York, GW called and asked him to return to the campus he once represented.

Hart was part of the Colonials team that reached the Sweet 16 in 1993. Though they were ousted from the NCAA tournament by Michigan’s “Fab 5” (a team that included former NBA players Chris Webber, Juwan Howard, and Jalen Rose), Hart recalls the Wolverines bench asking, “Why won’t they go away?”

According to Robert Chernak, senior vice president for Student and Academic Support Services, whose direction the athletic department falls under, Hart has no planned affiliation with the team, and was brought back to the university in the admissions office because of his sales experience which helps with recruitment, he said in a phone interview.

Following his 1995 graduation with a sociology degree, he played professionally in Lithuania; however, he hasn’t been asked back to the Smith Center thus far.

“When Coach (Karl) Hobbs was originally tapped to be the head coach, I did reach out in an email, and actually stopped by the office at one time, but I didn’t hear anything,” Hart said. “But I would love to be involved.”

Hart added that he would even volunteer his time to the program. “I don’t need to be paid. I just want the experience more than anything,” Hart said.

Hart hadn’t spoken with the athletic department yet this year, but said he was planning on speaking with the team soon.

Though his career is in sales, Hart said he has helped coach smaller high school and middle school teams in the past. He is currently volunteering at West Potomac High School.

“It’s something I would like to pursue at some point,” Hart said. “If there was some interest - it’s mainly my curiosity more than anything. Once you play for so long you want to try it, and see if you have something to offer.”

For now, Hart remains the assistant director of admissions and manages the Delaware and central and southern New Jersey regions for undergraduate recruitment.

Hart said that he plans on attending as many games as possible to support the Colonials from the stands.

“I love being reacquainted with the university and learning all the changes,” Hart said. “I love where I work. Some people (in the admissions office) have asked ‘Are you going to stick with us?’ And I said ‘Unless that head coaching position opens up I’m not going anywhere.’”