Hatters add new basketball coaches

Jaskulski MBBStetson men’s basketball head coach Corey Williams has completed his inaugural coaching staff. Mike Jaskulski (pictured right), Nikita Johnson, and Bert Capel will join the Hatter program as assistant coaches for the 2013-14 season, Williams announced on Thursday.

“They have a wealth of experience,” Williams said of his completed staff. “When you look at the mesh of coaches we have now, it’s a good mesh. We have experience, we have energy, and we have leadership. That’s important, and I think when we put all of our heads together, we’ll have a plan that will allow Stetson to compete for a championship.”

Jaskulski is a 31-year veteran of the basketball coaching profession. Beginning as an assistant coach at then NAIA member Loras College in 1982, Jaskulski has coached at nearly every level before landing in DeLand to coach alongside Williams. After taking over the head coaching position at Loras, and leading the team to five consecutive National Catholic Basketball Tournament Final Fours, Jaskulski moved up to the Division I ranks at Maine.

Johnson comes to Stetson with plenty of collegiate coaching experience of his own. Highlighted by a trip to the Final Four with LSU in 2006, Johnson’s career spans 32 years, most recently as an assistant at Louisiana Lafayette from 2010-12. In 2011-12 the Ragin’ Cajuns posted their first winning season in seven years with Johnson on staff.

Nikita Johnson, MBB
Johnson

“Nikita’s knowledge of the game speaks for itself,” Williams said of Johnson. “He’s an unbelievable recruiter, he’s a great person, he understands the game, and he’ll be able to relate to our players as well as anybody in the country.”

The youngster of the group, Capel, right, joins the Hatter family after serving as an assistant coach at JacksonvilleBert Capel MBB College in Texas this past season. Prior to joining the Jaguars staff, Capel was at Florida State, first as a graduate assistant from 2009-11, and then as the recruiting assistant for the 2011-12 season. Working with Corey Williams and the Seminoles, Capel played a role in everything from scouting reports to individual workouts.  During his time at Florida State, Capel was a part of the school’s first ever ACC Championship, the ‘Noles reached the NCAA Tournament three times, and once made it to the Sweet 16.

“Bert is a very knowledgeable young man, and a rising star in this profession,” Williams said of Capel. “He understands individual workouts and skill training. He will do a lot of the day-to-day operations for us, working with and developing our kids, and making sure they’re doing what they’re supposed to be doing.”

WBB assistant coachesStetson University women’s basketball head coach Lynn Bria proudly announced Thursday that David Saur and Kenny Anderson have joined the program’s coaching staff for the 2013-14 season.

Saur will serve as the Hatters recruiting coordinator, a position he also held at both Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 2012-13 and at California University of Pennsylvania in 2011-12. While at IUP, Saur helped lead the Hawks to a 23-9 record, an appearance in the NCAA Tournament, and a #12 national ranking. As the posts coach he mentored forward Sarah Pastorek, an honorable mention All-American performer, and forward Lindsay Stamp, an NCAA Tournament Atlantic Region all-tournament team selection.

“David is going to be a great asset,” Bria said. “He has done a really nice job at the places he has been. He is an excellent coach on the floor. I anticipate he will do a great job recruiting. He has a lot of contacts in the U.S. and internationally.”

Anderson joins the Hatters from Lynn University, where as an assistant coach in 2012-13 he helped guide the Knights to new school-records of 18 regular season wins and 11 conference wins. Lynn also captured the Sunshine State regular season title and participated in the NCAA Championship. Anderson tutored Knights guard Kira Harvey, the SSC Player and Co-Defensive Player of the Year, the Daktronics South Region Player of the Year, and Daktronics third-team All-American. He was also a member of the coaching staff that saw head coach Niki Washington earn SSC Coach of the Year honors.

“Kenny will be another really good recruiter,” Bria said. “He has already recruited in the state of Florida. He is a very impressive young coach who is really going to be outstanding. He is a really good floor coach, and I anticipate he will work with our guards. I think he will be a solid recruiter in the southeast.”

The Hatters were 24-9 in 2012-13 and champions of the Atlantic Sun Conference. For more on both news stories, go to GOHATTERS.COM.