Having already attained a wealth of experience with previous coaching stops at two other collegiate institutions, including a one-year stint at Wingate during the 2021-22 campaign, Chris Sause begins his fifth season as an assistant coach in Pembroke, and second as associate head coach in 2026-27.
The Braves have posted a 95-26 record since Sause's arrival, including a 69-9 record in Conference Carolinas play. In Sause's first season, the Black & Gold ranked second in Division II in rebound margin (+10.2) and third in three point percentage defense (29.3). The 2023-24 Braves squad led Division II in rebound margin at +11.9, and finished ninth, nationally, in field goal percentage defense at 40.0%. The 2024-25 team finished in the top 15, nationally, in seven categories, including second in rebound margin (+10.3), fourth in scoring margin (+14.9), and eighth in field goal percentage (50.6%). The 2025-26 squad would finish the season ranked fourth, nationally, in free throw attempts per game (27.7), fifth in rebound margin (+9.6), and sixth in free throws made per game (19.5).
Sause played in 95 games as a 4-year letterwinner (3-time captain) at North Carolina Wesleyan, and helped pace the Battling Bishops to 68 wins from 2015-19, including an impressive 43-18 mark against USA South Conference foes. He shot better than 46 percent from the field across his career in Rocky Mount, as well as a 67.9 percent success rate from the free throw line. He also served as an intern and administrative assistant with the program for all four seasons as well.
The Durham native and Voyager Academy graduate joined the Averett coaching staff as an assistant coach prior to the 2018-19 season and helped lead the Cougars to a wealth of success, including a 2020-21 campaign that saw the Cougars amass a 20-7 record, including a 15-2 mark in the always-tough USA South Conference. The success of the program during his time in Danville, Va., was also evidenced by a quartet of All-USA South selections as well.
Wingate registered a 21-8 mark and a fourth-place finish in the South Atlantic Conference in Sause's one year with the Bulldogs. Sause also enjoyed a stint as a scout and social media reporter for Phenom Hoop Report across the 2018-19 college basketball season as well.
Sause earned bachelor’s degrees in both business administration and organizational administration from North Carolina Wesleyan in 2019, and completed his master’s of business administration coursework at Averett in 2020.
Updated: August 2026
