Clift named men's basketball assistant coach
August 1, 2012
Jamie Foland
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Alaska men's basketball head coach Mick Durham announced that Jon Clift has been selected as the program's new assistant coach.
A native of Spokane, Wash., Clift is no stranger to the Nanooks and the Great Northwest Athletic Conference having spent the previous two years as an assistant coach at Central Washington. He also was a two-year member of the Wildcats' men's basketball team from 2008-2010 after transferring from Spokane Community College.
"Jon brings winning GNAC experience to our program through his playing days at Central Washington and having coached there the past two seasons,” Durham said. “He's very familiar with the Northwest, growing up in the Spokane area.”
“He's a competitor in anything he does, has huge heart and has a great work ethic,” Central Washington head coach Greg Sparling said. “He's been told he's undersized playing-wise but he goes and mixes it up with anybody. He's a true competitor.”
During Clift's two seasons coaching in Ellensburg, the Wildcats went 41-17 overall and 24-12 in conference play, including a 26-4 record in 2010-11 that allowed Central to claim the GNAC title and host the NCAA West Regional.
In two seasons as a player, he started all but two games of the 52 he played and averaged 8.6 points, 2.5 assists and converted just under 82-percent of his free throw attempts (112-137 FT). In his senior season, he averaged 11.6 points and 3.5 assists en route to being named an Honorable Mention All-GNAC selection.
“I bring four years of GNAC experience and the GNAC experience has been quality,” Clift said. “We have some work to do but I don't see any reason why Fairbanks can't get back to competing, winning games in the GNAC and being competitive on a yearly basis.”
This is also not the first time Durham has had an opportunity to work with a Clift as he coached Jon's older brother Marcus while at Montana State.
I coached Jon's brother Marcus at Montana State, so I'm familiar with Jon and his family,” Durham said. “Jon will bring energy and great character to our program. Jon has a bright future in the coaching profession and I'm excited to work with him here at UAF. I'm looking forward to bringing his GNAC experience to us as we move in a positive direction with our men's basketball program!”
“My brother played for him for two years at Montana State and had nothing but great things to say about him,” Clift said. “I'm really excited for this opportunity and everyone I've talked to who knows Coach Durham has nothing but good things to say about him.”
Clift added, “I'm really appreciative for everything Central has done for me and the opportunity it gave me,” Clift said. “At the same time, I'm ready to move on and start competing. The homecoming (Jan. 3, 2013 at Central Washington) will be great to see family and friends but there's no doubt that I'm a Nanook now!”
“He's going to be missed,” Sparling said. “He's the type of guy who played at the junior college level where it looks like Mick is doing some recruiting from. He played and coached in the GNAC and traveled the GNAC, so I think it's going to be a huge benefit to coach up there.”
Clift replaces former assistant Eric Stang, who resigned last month after two years on the men's basketball staff.