The head men’s basketball coaching position at Georgia Southern will be named the “Bice-Peace Head Men’s Basketball Coach” in recognition of a $1 million gift commitment from Dr. Karl Peace (’63) to support the men’s basketball program, pending approval from the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia.
The gift will be used to enhance the men’s basketball program through various initiatives and directly support the head men’s basketball coaching position.
“We sincerely thank Dr. Karl Peace (’63) for his generous $1 million gift, which has led to the naming of the head men’s basketball coaching position as the ‘Bice-Peace’ Head Men’s Basketball Coach,” said Georgia Southern Director of Athletics Jared Benko. “This transformative contribution will significantly enhance our men’s basketball program through various initiatives and directly support our head coach, ensuring a lasting impact on the future of Georgia Southern Basketball. We appreciate Dr. Peace and his family’s longtime support of this University.”
Georgia Southern men’s basketball has been a member of Division I since the 1971-72 season and the Sun Belt Conference since the 2014-15 season. The Eagles have won three conference championships, appeared in three NCAA Tournaments, and sent three players to the NBA.
“Georgia Southern brings people together in special ways, and Dr. Peace’s gift in honor of Dr. Bice exemplifies this,” said Georgia Southern President Kyle Marrero. “As a longtime supporter of Georgia Southern and one of its most significant donors, Dr. Peace continues to support the university in meaningful ways.”
Dr. Peace earned his BS degree in 1963 from then Georgia Southern College prior to earning an MS degree from Clemson University, a PhD degree from the Medical College of Virginia, and a Health Science Certificate from Vanderbilt University. Dr. Peace has a lengthy record of philanthropy to education, having endowed 13 educational funds at Georgia Southern. He endowed the first two eminent scholar chairs at GS, and his gift of $2.5 million to honor his late wife, effectively created the Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health – the first school of public health in the University System of Georgia.
“Some of my fondest memories come from Georgia Southern men’s basketball and scorekeeping with Dr. Bice,” said Dr. Karl Peace. “I am proud to be able to support such a historic program of this magnitude and honor my friend Dr. Bice. I am excited to make this commitment and do my part in the continued pursuit of championships for Georgia Southern men’s basketball.”
Dr. Herbert Bice was a Professor and Head of the Mathematics Department when Dr. Peace was a student and, later, Instructor of Mathematics at Georgia Southern College. Dr. Bice hired Dr. Peace as an undergraduate student paper-grader. Dr. Bice was the scorekeeper, and Dr. Peace was the timekeeper for the men’s basketball home games during Dr. Peace’s tenure as an Instructor of Mathematics.
Excitement surrounds the Eagles’ program as the squad will move into the new Jack and Ruth Ann Hill Convocation Center this year. The 2024-25 schedule will be released later this summer.