ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Kotie Kimble is living a dream, and in it he is dancing.

But he’s hardly doing so alone. He has plenty of company – the entire men’s basketball team at the University of North Carolina-Asheville.

Kimble, a 2003 graduate of Strom Thurmond High School and former manager with the Rebels basketball team, took his love of the game to Coastal Carolina in Conway, S.C. where he served two Chanticleer head coaches as an undergraduate assistant. And Kimble nearly danced with them in 2006, but the Chants fell short.

That’s why Kimble, now a UNC-Asheville men’s assistant basketball coach, couldn’t escape the irony swirling around him over the weekend when the Bulldogs cut down the nets after defeating the Chanticleers in the final game to be played at the school’s gymnasium – a place called Kimble Arena – to secure a coveted spot in the upcoming NCAA tournament.

“That’s the thing about this profession because it’s ironic sometimes,” Kimble said Monday. It was sweet.”

Kimble handles a variety of duties for the team, including some recruiting and lots of scouting of opposing teams. He also works with the team’s guards.

His path to the profession was paved with an undeniable work ethic, an unquenchable love for the game of basketball and a bit of good fortune.

Kimble’s work at Coastal Carolina stood out to the Chants former coach, Buzz Peterson (now the head coach at UNC-Wilmington). Peterson, who played at North Carolina and was Michael Jordan’s college roommate, said he encouraged the hard-working young man to not give up on his dreams, but he also lent some important support as well.

“He’s just a tremendous young man,” Peterson said of Kimble. “What stood out to me was just his overall demeanor and his personality. He was a delightful kid to be around and he was respectful. He was always asking questions and trying to get into our meetings to see what was going on.”

Kimble made his desire to coach known to Peterson and the two became close, with Kimble even living with Peterson and his family for a time when Peterson left Coastal Carolina for a front office position with the Charlotte Bobcats. While in Charlotte, Kimble lived in the Peterson’s basement and coached at a local high school.

“He had told me he had always wanted to coach and loved basketball and I told him to live the dream,” Peterson added. “My wife is a big supporter and my kids were rooting for (UNC-Asheville) so hard. I’m happy for the young man. He became like a big brother to our kids, and he’s paid his dues and is working his way up the ladder.”

Kimble said he will be forever grateful to everyone who has helped make his dream come true – the Peterson’s included.

“Absolutely, I’ve been very fortunate,” he said. “This is a very difficult profession to break into.”

Peterson eventually recommended Kimble to UNC-Asheville coach Eddie Biedenbach, who was up front with Kimble about his prospects for landing a job at the school.

“I know so many people (in the profession) and didn’t want to hire someone I don’t know, but I liked him,” Biedenbach said. “Everybody had great things to say about him and I told him we probably wouldn’t hire him, but that he could come work our camp and we would see how he worked. He worked hard and we ended up hiring him. He’s a very smart guy, he picks up things well. I trust him with our scouting reports, he does some recruiting and he has a knack for getting to know people. He’s done a tremendous job.”

All of which led Kimble to Saturday’s victory over his alma mater in a familiar place, but one celebrated with a new set of teammates.

“We’re going dancing and it’s a great feeling and my first time (in the tournament),” Kimble said. “I’m just happy to see these guys rewarded for their efforts. This is what you work all year for is a chance to go to the NCAA tournament. But being a part of a team and accomplishing something together is really something special.”