Garst, an outstanding defensive player and captain on the 1999 Tiger basketball squad, played for Tony Shaver’s Tigers for four years, while he and his classmates compiled 90 victories during that span.   Most notably in Garst’s career was his team’s one-point, double-overtime loss to Bo Ryan’s Wisconsin Platteville team in the 1999 NCAA Division III national championship game.  Since graduating from Hampden-Sydney in 1999, he has earned a Masters Degree in Career and Technical Education from Virginia Tech and has served as a business teacher at Hidden Valley High School in Roanoke, VA.

Garst gained valuable coaching experience over the past three years at the high school level, working most recently as junior varsity head coach and varsity assistant at Cave Spring High School.  At Cave Spring he led the JV team to a district title in 2003 and assisted the varsity team to a state runner-up finish the same year. He began his coaching career at Patrick Henry High School in 2001 as head JV and assistant varsity coach.

A native of Spartanburg, SC, Garst graduated from Salem High School in Salem, VA.  At Hampden-Sydney, he majored in economics and played guard on Tony Shaver’s Tiger basketball squad from 1995 through 1999. 

He was a Dean's List student, served as a Resident Advisor, was selected for Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges, and received the Joshua Warren White Sportsmanship Award.  

He is married to the former Sarah Kathleen Palmer of Salem and the two live in Farmville, VA, and are expecting their first child in 2006.