Santa Cruz Warriors Announce New Head Coach: Aaron Miles
The Santa Cruz Warriors announced Aaron Miles as their new head coach on Wednesday.
The Santa Cruz Warriors announced their first signing of the new season on Wednesday, naming former Kanas point guard Aaron Miles as their new head coach.
Miles, 34, becomes Santa Cruz’s third head coach in franchise history.
Following the unfortunate departure of Coach Casey Hill this past summer, it was clear that the Golden State Warriors‘ G-League affiliate was in need of someone new to usher in the next era of Santa Cruz Warriors basketball.
According to Santa Cruz’s general manager, Kent Lacob, Miles is more than qualified to assume the role of Surf City’s head coach for years to come.
Per Santa Cruz Warriors PR:
"“We’re absolutely thrilled to introduce Aaron Miles as the new head coach of the Santa Cruz Warriors,” said Lacob. “Aaron has stood out as a leader at every stop in his playing career and as a collegiate assistant coach. We are confident that he will be a tremendous fit for our team and our organization as we look toward the 2017-18 season and beyond.”"
Team President Chris Murphy is also excited to have Miles represent the Santa Cruz Warriors organization, per Santa Cruz Warriors PR:
"“Aaron has tremendous experience and basketball knowledge to share with our players and fans,” said Murphy. “I believe he will be a terrific ambassador for the Santa Cruz Warriors organization and an exemplary member of the Santa Cruz community.”"
Most recently serving as an assistant coach at Florida Gulf Coast University, Miles was key in helping the Eagles to a 26-8 W/L record, which earned them a berth in the 2017 NCAA Tournament.
Prior to his time in Florida, Miles served as the assistant director of student-athlete development at the University of Kansas, where, as a player, he had previously set a school and Big-12 career-record 954 assists (8th-most in NCAA history).
Over the course of his college career, Miles averaged 8.6 points, 3.3 rebounds and 6.9 assists. Going undrafted in 2005, Miles was picked up by the Golden State Warriors before being released in January 2006. He spent the rest of the season in the NBA D-League (now the NBA G-League), playing with the Fort Wayne Flyers.
From 2006-2010, Miles played basketball overseas with a number of different teams, winning the French Cup in 2007 and earning HEBA Greek All-Star honors in 2009. Following an unsuccessful try-out for Golden State in 2010, Miles spent the rest of the season with the D-League’s Reno Bighorns, ultimately deciding to continue his international playing career the following year.
He enjoyed some of his best years playing with BC Krasnye Krylya from 2011-2014, winning the Russian Cup in 2012 and 2013. He earned Russian Cup MVP honors in 2013, and his team was named EuroChallenge champions in the same year. Miles ended his playing career in 2015 with Lokomotiv Kuban.
"“I’m really excited to join the Warriors organization and to become part of the Santa Cruz community that has supported the team through 31 consecutive home sellouts,” said Miles. “I look forward to building upon the success of the organization’s first five seasons into one of the NBA G League’s model franchises.”"