Vic Finora
Vic Finora
  • Title:
    Head Coach
  • Phone:
    828-689-1370
  • Email:
    vfinora@mhu.edu
  • Alma Mater:
    Wiliam Penn, '06

Bio

Vic Finora was named the Head Men's Basketball Coach at Mars Hill University on February 7, 2017 becoming the ninth head coach in program history.  He stepped into the role after serving on an interim basis for the majority of the 2016-17 season.

During his short stint on the Hill, Coach Finora’s teams have increase their overall and conference win totals each year and are coming off the program’s first post-season appearance in a decade. He has recruited and coached three SAC All-Freshmen selections, a SAC scoring leader, a second team All-SAC recipient, a first team All-SAC honoree, and two players who have gone on to play professionally.

The 2019-20 season marked Coach Finora’s third full season at the helm of the program which proved to be the Lions' most successful season in the last 10 years. The team posted the most overall wins (12), and conference wins (10), since the 2009-10 season. The 10 SAC wins were good enough to tie for a sixth place finish and secure the program’s first appearance in the SAC Tournament in a decade. 2019-20 also saw Ja’Shawn Brooks eclipse the 1,000 point mark in only his second season on the Hill, becoming Finora’s first recruit to join the exclusive scoring club. Brooks was named First-Team All-SAC, becoming Mars Hill’s first such honoree since Sammy Emile in 2011.

Prior to coming to his time on the Hill, Finora spent five years at fellow SAC member, Coker University. During his time at Coker, Finora served in a number of roles including assistant women’s basketball coach (2010-15), assistant men’s basketball coach (2010-11), and head cross country coach (2011-13). During his lone season with the Cobras men’s basketball team, Finora was part of a run to the Conference Carolinas Tournament championship game.

In five seasons as an assistant on the women’s side, Finora worked alongside his wife Jenny, as she couple revitalized the program. The Finoras improved the win totals from one the year before there arrival in Hartsville, to 18 in only their third year. In 2012-13, the Cobras posted the second best record in school history at 18-11, finishing 4th in the conference, and hosted a Conference Carolina’s tournament game for the first time in school history. Their tenure at Coker was marked by three consecutive post-season appearances, seven players being selected to All-Conference teams, and one All-Region recipient.

Finora began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at perennial NAIA powerhouse, Georgetown College (KY). While working for legendary coach Happy Osborne, Vic helped with all aspects of the program. During the historic campaign, the Tigers became the first team to go undefeated in MSC play, running the table in both the regular season and the MSC Tournament, claiming both regular season and tournament titles. They finished the season with a record of 29-4 and were ranked #3 in the national polls. Seven players from that team went on to play professional basketball.

Originally from St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada, Finora is one of only four current Canadian head coaches in NCAA Basketball at any level. He played high school basketball at Holy Cross Secondary School, where he was coached by his father, Brian Finora.

Vic and his wife, Jenny, reside in Mars Hill. The couple have two children, a son, Emjay, age 8, and a daughter, Grace, age 5.