NBA Legend, Entrepreneur, To Assist Head Coach Dwan McMillan and Staff as A Volunteer In All Aspects of Business and Basketball As His Son Laymen Joins The Seahawks
(May 13, 2026) Staten Island, NY- Wagner College today announced that Basketball Hall of Famer and entrepreneur Tracy McGrady has joined the staff of new fulltime men’s head basketball coach Dwan McMillan as Strategic Advisor.
McGrady, per NCAA rules, has waived a salary and will serve in a volunteer capacity as his son Laymen, a 6-4 freshman who spent last season as a redshirt at Oral Roberts University, joins the Seahawks as a student-athlete.
McGrady will advise the College on the development of sustainable structures related to Name, Image and Likeness investment, while also providing strategic guidance to the men’s basketball program in areas including marketing, player development, and expanding Wagner’s reach beyond its traditional areas of engagement on and off the court.
“The challenges college athletics face today, especially at the Mid-Major level in a city like New York, can be very difficult, and I am looking forward to helping coach McMillan and his staff in every way possible to raise the profile, the level of talent and the business opportunities both on and off the court for his young athletes as they grow not just in basketball but as leaders. My hope is to help create an environment where all involved can stay, grow together, and really master their game and life skills over time.” McGrady said. “Stepping into this role is really personal for me since I did not go to college. Being around this community, where gritty coaches like P.J. Carlesimo and Dan Hurley got their start, excites me just as much as basketball. It is a priority for me that goes well beyond wins and losses in the Northeast Conference. It is about making sure potential is realized both for the short and the long term for these dedicated athletes and the staff.”
“We are pleased to welcome Tracy McGrady to Wagner in this advisory capacity at an important moment for our institution,” said Wagner President Jeffrey Doggett. “As we continue to thoughtfully strengthen our men’s basketball program and overall student-athlete experience, Tracy brings a unique combination of perspective, excellence, and commitment to development both on and off the court. His engagement aligns with our broader vision of preparing students not only for success in their fields but for life, and we look forward to exploring this partnership in a deliberate and meaningful way.”
“We are both humbled and honored to have Tracy join us in this new role as we build upon a successful first season we have had at Wagner, and look forward to a future for both our program and for the College community that is very bright,” McMillan said. “It became very evident in our first conversation where both Tracy and Laymen expressed interest in transferring to Wagner that there was a commitment that was both special and very unique, and we are looking forward to having Tracy’s help off the court as Laymen and our athletes develop on it.”
McGrady, renowned as one of the NBA's greatest players, is not only celebrated for his remarkable basketball career but also for his dedication to making a positive impact off the court. Born on May 24, 1979, in Bartow, Florida, Tracy McGrady's journey to greatness began at an early age. His exceptional talent and unwavering work ethic propelled him from an unknown prospect at the legendary ABCD Camp to high school sensation and eventually to NBA stardom. McGrady was a seven-time NBA All-Star, a two-time scoring champion, and an NBA Most Improved Player. His ability to score effortlessly, create dazzling plays, and lead his teams to victory became legendary.
In 2017, Tracy received the highest honor in basketball, induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, a testament to his enduring legacy and influence on the game. His post-playing career has seen McGrady launch One’s Basketball League, the premier one-on-one basketball competition which will have its third season beginning on May 15, as well expand his broadcasting role now with the NBA on NBC and with his highly popular podcast “Cousins” with fellow NBA legend and his cousin Vince Carter, as well as becoming a partial owner of the Buffalo Bills of the NFL. In addition to his basketball achievements, he is deeply committed to philanthropy and community service. Through his foundation, he has touched the lives of countless individuals, focusing on initiatives that promote education, youth development, and community enrichment. He, with his wife CleRenda, have made philanthropy a core value of action in how they raise their four children Layla, Laymen, Laycee and Layden. The McGrady's are committed to making the lives of underserved communities better through education and personal youth development outreach.
Wagner appointed McMillan head men’s basketball coach on April 20 after he served as interim coach during the 2025-26 season, leading them to a 14-17 record.
ABOUT WAGNER COLLEGE
Wagner College, founded in 1883, seamlessly blends exceptional professional programs with a traditional academic ethos for a comprehensive, experiential-forward education that fosters well-rounded, adaptable graduates. The college’s verdant residential campus offers a traditional college experience on New York City’s Staten Island, situated on a hilltop overlooking Manhattan, Brooklyn and the Atlantic. Wagner prides itself on robust student support services, including personalized academic advising, comprehensive career counseling, and a wide array of wellness programs. Students are prepared not only for professional success but also for meaningful lives through the faculty’s dedication to promoting scholarship, achievement, leadership and citizenship. A Division I athletics institution and the No. 1 college in the U.S. for student theater, Wagner enrolls approximately 2,000 undergraduate and graduate students from 49 states and 48 countries.
