John Aiken (basketball)

John Aiken is an American basketball coach who last served as the head men's basketball coach at McNeese State.[1]

John Aiken
Biographical details
BornPortland, Maine
Alma materSouthern Maine
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
2007–2008UNE (assistant)
2008–2012Belhaven (assistant)
2012–2014Belhaven
2014–2016UT Martin (assistant)
2016–2018Nicholls State (assistant)
2018–2021McNeese (assistant)
2021–2023McNeese
Head coaching record
Overall52–78 (.400)

Coaching career edit

Aiken began his coaching career in his native Maine assisting at Greater Portland Christian School and Cheverus High School, the latter under former Boston University men's basketball coach Bob Brown, the father of Brett Brown.[2][3] He'd get his start in the collegiate ranks as an assistant coach at the University of New England before becoming an assistant coach at Belhaven. After serving in the assistant role for four seasons, Aiken was elevated to head coach where he guided the Blazers to a 30–33 record in two seasons.[4]

Moving into the Division I ranks, Aiken joined Heath Schroyer's staff at UT Martin, and followed it up with an assistant coaching stint at Nicholls State.[5] He'd reunite with Schroyer at McNeese State as an assistant coach, and on March 11, 2021, Aiken would be elevated to head coach after Schroyer took on the position of athletic director full time.[6][7] He was fired on March 8, 2023.[8]

Head coaching record edit

NAIA edit

Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Belhaven Blazers (SSAC) (2012–2014)
2012–13 Belhaven 12–18 8–10 6th (West)
2013–14 Belhaven 18–15 14–6 2nd (West)
Belhaven: 30–33 (.476) 22–16 (.579)
Total: 30–33 (.476)

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

NCAA DI edit

Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
McNeese State Cowboys (Southland Conference) (2021–2023)
2021–22 McNeese State 11–22 4–10 7th
2022–23 McNeese State 11–23 6–12 8th
McNeese State: 22–45 (.318) 10–22 (.313)
Total: 22–45 (.318)

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

References edit

  1. ^ "John Aiken - Head Coach - Men's Basketball Coaches". McNeese State University Athletics.
  2. ^ "Belhaven University Athletics - John Aiken - 2009-10 Men's Basketball Coaching Staff - Belhaven University". blazers.belhaven.edu.
  3. ^ Moore, Tom. "Sixers' Brett Brown's dad can't stop coaching". Burlington County Times.
  4. ^ "Men's Basketball Coaching Records". blazers.belhaven.edu.
  5. ^ "John Aiken - Men's Basketball Coach". Nicholls State University Athletics.
  6. ^ "Schroyer to act as AD only; Aiken promoted to head coach". McNeese State University Athletics.
  7. ^ "McNeese's Heath Schroyer steps down as basketball coach to be full-time AD; John Aiken promoted to head coach". KPLC. March 11, 2021. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
  8. ^ "McNeese parts ways with MBB head coach John Aiken". McNeese State University Athletics, retrieved March 8,2023.