Interview w/ Coach Mike Cifliku (Assistant Coach at Ohio University)

Coach Mike Cifliku shares his coaching journey from being a Student Manager at Ohio University to becoming an Assistant Coach at his alma mater.While in high school, Mike served as a high school basketball coach in the same area. After graduating from high school he enrolled at Ohio University and became a Student Manager.He was on staff when the Bobcats won the MAC Tournament during the 2020-21 season and knocked off Virginia, the defending national champions, in the Round of 64.Coach Cifliku is entering his tenth season in Athens and his second as an Assistant Coach under Coach Jeff Boals after previously serving as a Graduate Assistant and Video Coordinator.**Sponsored by Defense on a String**Be sure to check out www.DefenseOnAString.com and use the promo code "BOXSCORE" for 15% off your order.

Coach Scott Waterman shares his journey from growing up in Orange County to becoming the Head Coach at Academy of Art.After playing basketball at the NCAA DIII level he embarked on a college basketball coaching career. He spent time at Long Beach State, Cal State Fullerton, Pomona-Pitzer, Dartmouth, and Dominican University prior to becoming the Head Coach at Academy of Art.Coach Waterman elevated the Academy of Art program to a NCAA DII National Tournament program. He orchestrated the program's first regular season win over a NCAA DI opponent with a 79-60 victory at UC Davis.Prior to the school's decision to eliminate their athletic programs, Coach Waterman led the Urban Knights to 81 wins in his final four seasons at the helm - including multiple NCAA Tournament berths and their first NCAA Tournament victory. **Sponsored by Defense on a String**Be sure to check out www.DefenseOnAString.com and use the promo code "BOXSCORE" for 15% off your order.

Coach Luke Colwell shares his journey from growing up in Apex, North Carolina to becoming an Assistant Coach at Cornell.Luke served as a Student Manager and then a Graduate Assistant at South Carolina under Coach Frank Martin from 2017 until 2022.Colwell was hired as the Director of Basketball Operations at VMI and spent two seasons with the Keydets under Coach Andrew Wilson.Coach Jon Jaques hired Luke to his inaugural coaching staff at Cornell as the Director of Basketball Operations. In May of 2025 he was promoted to an Assistant Coach.**Sponsored by Defense on a String**Be sure to check out www.DefenseOnAString.com and use the promo code "BOXSCORE" for 15% off your order.

Coach Tristan Spurlock shares his journey from growing up in Northern Virginia to becoming an Assistant Coach at the Division I level.He started his college basketball career at the University of Virginia and eventually transferred to UCF. After playing professionally he joined the coaching staff at the University of Iowa.In April Coach Spurlock joined Fran McCaffery's coaching staff at the University of Pennsylvania.**Sponsored by FastModel**Be sure to check out FastModelSports.com and use the promo code "BOXSCORE" for 15% off your purchase.

Coach Stan Waterman shares his journey from growing up in Wilmington, Delaware to becoming the Head Coach at Delaware State.After playing Division I basketball at the University of Delaware he began his coaching journey at as an Assistant Coach at Wilmington and then moved onto the Sanford School. In his 29 seasons at the Sanford School he led the program to 571 wins, 10 state championship game appearances, winning eight state titles, including his last two seasons in 2019 and 2021.He went onto coach with USA Basketball where he was on staff for the the gold-medal-winning 2018 USA Men’s U17 World Cup Team and the 2017 USA Men’s U16 national team. Stan Waterman was named the Head Coach at Delaware State in 2021 and has increased their win in each season at the helm.**Sponsored by FastModel**Be sure to check out FastModelSports.com and use the promo code "BOXSCORE" for 15% off your purchase.

Coach Flynn Clayman shares his journey from growing up in Los Angeles to becoming the Head Coach at High Point University.After his professional playing career ended overseas he coached AAU before accepting a Graduate Assistant position at Southern Utah and quickly advanced up the ranks to Associate Head Coach - as well as being named the Interim Head Coach during the CBI Tournament in 2023.Coach Alan Huss hired Flynn Clayman to his inaugural coaching staff as his Associate Head Coach at High Point. High Point went 56-15 including an 27-5 record in Big South Conference competition during his time as Associate Head Coach. The program clinched back-to-back regular season championships - as well as reaching their first NCAA Tournament (in the Division I Era).On April 11th Flynn Clayman was introduced as the 15th Head Coach in High Point history.**Sponsored by FastModel**Be sure to check out FastModelSports.com and use the promo code "BOXSCORE" for 15% off your purchase.

Coach Stan Jones shares his journey from growing up in Mississippi and walking onto the basketball team at Memphis [State] to becoming one of the most well respected assistant coaches in the country!He amassed an overall record of 353-91 including back-to-back state championships in 1993-94 and 1994-95. After his tremendous run as a high school coach he joined the college ranks at the University of Miami under Coach Leonard Hamilton and then moved onto the Washington Wizards coaching staff with Coach Hamilton.After the Washington Wizards parted ways with Coach Hamilton, Stan accepted an Assistant Coach position at Mississippi State under Coach Rick Stansbury. His lone season in Starkville, Coach Jones helped lead Mississippi State to the school's second SEC Tournament Championship.Coach Hamilton hired him to join his coaching staff at Florida State in 2002 and Coach Jones served as his Associate Head Coach until Hamilton retired at the conclusion of the 2024-25 season.Stan Jones is nationally recognized as one of the top assistants in the country and is widely respected by coaching peers. He was a member of the inaugural Assistant Coach Hall of Fame.**Sponsored by FastModel**Be sure to check out FastModelSports.com and use the promo code "BOXSCORE" for 15% off your purchase.

Tyler Summitt shares his journey from growing up in Knoxville, Tennessee to becoming the Head Coach at Louisiana Tech to the Co-Founder of Pat Summitt Leadership Group and Director of the Pat Summitt Foundation.Growing up the son of Coach Pat Summitt, Tyler attended The Webb School where he played basketball for current Swarthmore Head Coach Landry Kosmalski. Tyler went on to play for both Bruce Pearl and Cuonzo Martin at Tennessee before becoming a Student Assistant for the Lady Vols.Tyler was hired as an Assistant Coach at Marquette and after two seasons he was named the sixth Head Coach in the history of Louisiana Tech Women's Basketball.Currently Tyler is the Co-Founder of Pat Summitt Leadership Group and Director of the Pat Summitt Foundation.**Sponsored by FastModel** Be sure to check out FastModelSports.com and use the promo code "BOXSCORE" for 15% off your purchase.

Coach Bobby Marlin shares his journey from growing up in Tupelo, Mississippi to winning 600+ games as a college basketball coach. After serving as a GA and an Assistant Coach earlier in his career, Coach Marlin was hired at Pensacola Junior College and won 123 games in his five seasons at the helm - including the 1993 NJCAA National Championship. He served as an Assistant Coach at Alabama from 1995-1998 before being named the Head Coach at Sam Houston State. The Bearkats had great success during his time in Huntsville including three Southland Conference Championships and two NCAA Tournament appearances, he was named Coach of the Year three times - as well as being named Coach of the Decade for the Southland Conference. Coach Marlin moved onto the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. He led the Ragin' Cajuns to six postseason tournament appearances including two NCAA Tournaments. The Ragin' Cajuns had great success under Coach Marlin, he was unexpectedly let go by their Athletic Director prior to the start of Sun Belt competition during the 2024-25 season despite leading the program to the NCAA Tournament in 2023. **Sponsored by FastModel* * Be sure to check out FastModelSports.com and use the promo code "BOXSCORE" for 15% off your purchase.

Coach Mike Roberts played at Indiana and was on the team that was the Runner-Up 2002 NCAA Championship. He served as a Graduate Assistant at Texas Tech under Hall of Fame Coach Bob Knight before embarking on a coaching career that has taken him to California, Rice, UNC Greensboro, Indiana, Cincinnati, and now UTEP. Coach Roberts has developed a strong reputation for his recruiting efforts and has helped coach and mentor multiple players who have gone on to be selected in the NBA Draft. **Sponsored by FastModel** Be sure to check out FastModelSports.com and use the promo code "BOXSCORE" for 15% off your purchase.