POTSDAM, N.Y.- SUNY Potsdam Men’s Basketball Coach Sherry Dobbs has announced the appointment of Josh Sharlow as an assistant coach for the 2011-12 season. Sharlow replaces Jon Tanous who has moved on to take the top assistant job at Ithaca College. Sharlow will move to the coaching arena after a very successful playing career both at St. Lawrence University and overseas.

Sharlow had an exceptional career as a player with the Saints, being named Liberty League Rookie of the Year as a freshman and Player of the Year as a senior, as well as multiple all-conference selections. He guided St. Lawrence to three NCAA Tournament appearances. As a senior, Sharlow captained the Saints and was named a second-team All-American. In his St. Lawrence career, Sharlow totaled 1,044 points, 492 rebounds, and 468 assists was called “the best point guard we’ve ever had at St. Lawrence” by Saints Coach Chris Downs.

Following graduation, Sharlow spent the 2010-11 season playing professionally with the London Leopards of the England Basketball League. In 19 games with the Leopards, the point guard averaged 12.1 points-per-game.

Sharlow brings some coaching experience as well. In 2009, he was a volunteer coach at La Amistad Puerto Plata, a clinic in the Dominican Republic for instructing teenagers in the fundamentals of basketball. While in London he worked with Hoops 4 Health, a community based basketball program.

“I am very excited to add Josh to our coaching staff,” said Dobbs. “He has great experience as a player at the collegiate and professional level. Having played in three NCAA tournaments, I believe Josh understands what it takes to be successful at the highest levels of Division III basketball. He will be a tremendous asset to our program and has a very bright future as a college basketball coach.”

A native of Norwood, N.Y., Sharlow earned bachelor’s degree in psychology from St. Lawrence in 2010.