More Valley Coaching Additions

Editor: The following are portions of press releases from godrakebulldogs.com and gosycamores.com.

DES MOINES, Iowa – Drake University head men’s basketball coach Niko Medved  has announced the hiring of Aaron Katsuma as the Bulldogs’ director of basketball operations.

Katsuma joins Medved’s staff after spending the 2016-17 season as the assistant director of player personnel at the University of Minnesota.

“Aaron is a great addition to our staff. He has a tremendous amount of experience handling a variety of responsibilities that go into running a successful basketball program,” Medved said. “Aaron is very good at connecting with people and will do a great job with our players.”

“I am proud of Aaron for taking the next step in his career,” said Minnesota head coach Richard Pitino. “He was a valuable member of our basketball program, and I could not be more excited for him. He has a solid work ethic, and I know he will do great things for Drake men’s basketball.”

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. — Indiana State Basketball Head Coach Greg Lansing announced today (June 2) the hiring of Brett Carey as the program’s new assistant coach. Carey joins Associate Head Coach Marcus Belcher and assistant coach Terry Parker on Lansing’s staff.

Carey comes to the Sycamore Basketball program after spending the last nine years at UNC-Asheville, including each of the last two as the program’s Associate Head Coach where he worked for head coach Nick McDevitt.

“I’m excited to bring Brett into the Sycamore Family,” coach Lansing said. “He comes highly recommended from several coaches I respect a great deal. His diversity in recruiting as well as his ability as a coach and working daily with our guys are all outstanding qualities and he fits in extremely well with the rest of the staff.”

Carey replaces the void in the staff left when Lou Gudino left the program in late April to join the staff of New Mexico State.

Carey was a two-year letterman for UNC Asheville from 1999-2001 where he started in the backcourt both years he was with the Bulldogs. He helped guide a young Asheville team to the Big South Conference championship game in 2000 and earned All-Tournament honors for his play.

Carey, a native of Lincolnton, N.C. came back to UNC Asheville in the fall of 2008 after serving as an assistant coach at national prep power Oak Hill Academy in Mouth of Wilson, Va. The Warriors went 34-4 in the 2007-08 season and were ranked third in the nation for high school programs by ESPN.

Carey worked for Dave Odom at the University of South Carolina as a volunteer assistant coach for the 2005-06 and 2006-07 seasons.

“Brett Carey has been involved with every phase of college basketball,” former Wake Forest and South Carolina head basketball coach Dave Odom said. “He is a tireless recruiter, a proven on the floor teacher and enjoys the relationship with the student-athletes.”