Garrett Dorfman enters his first season as an assistant coach with the N.C. Wesleyan men's basketball program in 2025-2026. A Durham, North Carolina native, Dorfman brings a wealth of experience from his coaching career, which began with a volunteer assistant role at N.C. Wesleyan in 2019. During that time, he contributed to the team’s 2020-21 conference championship.
Dorfman graduated from Wittenberg University in 2018, where he was a member of the men’s basketball program. His coaching journey continued when he joined Ferrum College as Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach in 2022. Over three seasons at Ferrum, Dorfman helped the Panthers reach three consecutive ODAC Tournament quarterfinal appearances, marking a program milestone. His efforts were instrumental in Ferrum achieving back-to-back 16+ win seasons for the first time since the early 1990s.
Notable accomplishments during Dorfman’s tenure at Ferrum include:
· 2024–25: The Panthers posted a 17–9 record (9–7 ODAC), achieving an eleven-game improvement overall and an eight-game conference improvement since 2022. This marked Ferrum’s best conference placement in program history, finishing 6th in the ODAC and posting the most wins since 2011.
· 2023–24: Ferrum posted sixteen wins, including key victories over nationally ranked #19 Virginia Wesleyan and Roanoke. The team advanced to the ODAC quarterfinals after a win in the opening round of the playoffs.
Throughout his career, Dorfman has been pivotal in recruiting and developing talented players, including four All-ODAC Second Team selections: Shone Hicks, Calvin Washington, Jikari Johnson, and Charles Tart. Hicks went on to sign professional contracts in Finland, Paraguay, and the Dominican Republic, while Washington also played professionally in China. Jikari Johnson earned a full scholarship to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
“I’m thrilled to return to Coach Thompson’s staff. He gave me my first opportunity as a volunteer back in 2019, and now, six years later, I’m excited to come back in a full-time role. The unique tradition and culture of this program mean a lot to me, and I’m eager to contribute to its continued success,” said Dorfman.
Coach Thompson expressed his excitement as well, saying, “We are thrilled to welcome Coach Dorfman back to Wesleyan. He’s a remarkable young coach who has already proven himself at every level. His passion for the game and dedication to player development make him an invaluable addition to our staff. We look forward to seeing the impact he will have in every aspect of our program moving forward.”
