Nebraska Basketball: Armon Gates Named Assistant Coach

Nebraska has a new assistant basketball coach!

Armon Gates joins Nebrasketball, coming from the University of Florida where he was to be the associated head coach under Mike White. Gates spent the past five seasons at Northwestern under Chis Collins and had briefly taken the job at Florida, but left because the “fit” wasn’t right or something like that.. At Northwestern, Gates helped Collins to the school’s first-ever NCAA appearance and first-ever NCAA tournament win. (EMPHASIS MINE)

From the Nebraska athletic department:

“I really enjoyed my brief time at Florida,” Gates said. “Coach Mike White and his staff are tremendous people and great friends. Last week, I consulted Coach White about approaching Tim Miles regarding the Nebraska coaching position. After visiting Lincoln and the campus, it became clear to me Nebraska was a great fit. I’m greatly appreciative of Florida and Coach White for the opportunity be part of Gator Nation. I am really looking forward to a new beginning at Nebraska.”

Tim Miles says nice things about him:

“I have known Armon for several years and spent quality time with him,” Miles said. “What immediately becomes clear about him is his positivity and high energy. He will be a good role model for our players. He will be an excellent teacher of the game and will do a phenomenal job recruiting, as he’s proven over the years at Northwestern, Kent State, and Loyola-Chicago. We are really happy to add Armon and his family to Husker Nation.”

Gates’ resume seems pretty good as success has followed him all over the place.

He was a prolific guard while at Kent State. While he was there, the Golden Flashes had three postseason appearances and four straight 20-win seasons. He compiled a record of 88-42. Sounds good, right?

Check this bit from the release:

Gates graduated from Kent State in 2006 with a degree in leisure studies and earned his master’s degree in sports administration from the same institution in 2007. He was a MAC All-Academic selection.

WHAT THE HELL IS LEISURE STUDIES?

After that, he started his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Western Kentucky. The year he was there, the Hilltoppers went 29-7 and reached the NCAA Sweet 16. This sounds fantastic.

He then spent the next two years as a full-time assistant at Kent State. He helped Kent State win a Mid-Atlantic Conference regular-season title. Sounds great, too.

He then spent a year at TCU, then two seasons at Loyola Chicago, where he helped develop guys who won all-conference awards. This is okay. I mean... it’s not conference championships or NCAA appearances or wins, but at least he developed guys who got honored.

It certainly seems like Nebraska basketball is on the edge of becoming decent. We need some good news in the “players are returning” department, and next year could be a special year.

Although... hey... now...!!!!!

Perhaps this guy can help us get over that hump.