Ej Gallup will be stepping down as head coach of the Fulton Montgomery Community College men's basketball program at the conclusion of the 2024-25 season.
Gallup was named head coach in May of 2020. In four seasons, Gallup has brought the program to new heights. The Raiders won the Region 3 title in 2023 and earned a birth to the NJCAA National Tournament. The following season, FM made it back to the Region 3 title game and earned an at-large birth to the National Tournament.
"It is very important to me to let everyone know that FMCC will always have a special place in my heart. FMCC and Kevin Jones gave me an opportunity to be a college head coach directly after retiring as a player. I leave here with nothing but great memories. In the last four years, personally I have had some of the highest of highs and lowest of lows. Being a small part of FMCC has been awesome. Along with my assistant coaches and players, every day has been nothing short of a great adventure," said Gallup.
Throughout his career at FM, Gallup has tallied 67 victories and counting, as well as, conference, region 3 and district coach of the year awards. Gallup earned 50 wins faster than any other coach in program history and led his team to a men's basketball program record, 17 consecutive wins during the 2023-2024 season. The Raiders were ranked in the top 15 nationally and have been in the top two in the region for scoring and field goal percentage.
Gallup and his staff have been responsible for eight players being tabbed to the all-region team and ten to the all-conference team.
"I am forever grateful to my assistant coaches; Tj Czeski, Scott Parillo, Aiden Monroe, John Sumpter and Todd Wheaton. Thank you to my wife Allyson, being a coaches wife is the toughest role in sports and I appreciate you. Thank you to Allyson, and my sister Jen, for being team cooks. Thank you to Jamin Clemente and Brian Cady at the score table, everyone in financial aid and admissions and media relations. I will always look back and be proud of all that we were able to accomplish as such a small school and team. The basketball side of things and our success has obviously been awesome and enjoyable but to be a part of a team with my coaches and players is special stuff. Thank you to our local fans that came out to home games and sponsors helping with gear. It has honestly been a true community effort and I have been proud to represent Fulton and Montgomery counties as a college basketball coach. Basketball has taken me on such an amazing ride in my life and FMCC could not have been a better place for me to begin my coaching career. My family and I can't wait to see where it leads us and what is next. Lastly, I want to again thank each and every one of my guys that played for me. Thank you for letting me coach you, thank you for wanting to be pushed and not being afraid to chase your dreams. Whether it was basketball or life, I hope that you guys got to learn a little bit from me as I was fortunate enough to learn a lot from all of you," said Gallup.
Gallup and Raiders look to finish out the regular season on a high note as they host their final two home games of the regular season this weekend. They will take on North Country on Saturday at 3pm and Mohawk Valley on Sunday at 3pm.