Looking to build on its first post-season victory in 50 years last season, the Point Loma Nazarene University (PLNU) men’s basketball team tips off the 2008-09 regular season with new head coach and former assistant Ethan Hamilton. “We’re excited about this year and about our players. We have a good core of players returning and we had a great recruiting class,” Hamilton said. PLNU had made previous playoff appearances in 1968, 1983, 2000 and 2003. Last season, the Sea Lions went 24-10 overall and 13-7 within the Golden State Athletic Conference (GSAC). They made the GSAC Tournament and then defeated Southern Nazarene (Oklahoma) 76-73 in the National Athletic Interscholastic Association (NAIA) playoffs. “We have a great group of guys who are very passionate about basketball. Chemistry is going to be a strong point for us this year. They play smart,” Hamilton said. Hamilton has spent the last three years as an assistant under former head coach Art Willmore, but Hamilton played a large role in recruiting and developing the game strategies since he arrived in 2005. “We are starting our second week of practice and I have to thank Coach Willmore for all his help,” Hamilton said. “When I came here, he allowed me a free hand in running the offense. He was a great mentor and it has helped make an easy transition.” Transitioning from assistant coach to head coach involves going from concentrating on certain responsibilities to delegating them. “I am very confident and amazed with the assistant coaches on my staff,” Hamilton said. “My coaches know our players very well and will be able to use their strengths. We all have to be on the same page. I give them a certain amount of creativity but we all have the same vision so the job gets done.” Since Hamilton arrived, the basketball program has posted an overall record of 61-33 and has qualified for three GSAC tournaments and made an appearance in the nationals. Hamilton spent time as an assistant coach at University of California, Riverside and Azusa Pacific University before coming to Point Loma. The 2008-09 recruits include 6’4″ guard Rhett Beal; 6’ guard Dean Colbray, a transfer from Eastern Washington University; 6’8″ forward Brandon Johnson; 6’1″ guard Nate Van Weelden and his brother, Nic, a 6’2″ guard who is a transfer from Pepperdine University. Three key veterans will also be returning: Craig Austin, Curtis Carlson and Noble Shelton. Carlson is a 6’5″ junior guard/forward, Austin a 6’11″ junior forward/center who led the team in blocks with 46 last year. Shelton is a 6’1″ sophomore point guard. PLNU opens the season on the road at Seattle University (Washington) on Nov. 7 and Northwest University (Washington) on Nov. 8. “Seattle University is moving up to Division 1, so it will be a good test for us,” Hamilton said. The Sea Lions will return to San Diego to play the San Diego State University Aztecs in an exhibition game on Nov. 11 before opening their home schedule against Trevecca Nazarene (Tennessee). “We’ll be tested right out of the gate,” Hamilton said.
