Ottumwa -- Aaron Anderson, with coaching experience at two highly-successful programs, has been hired as a new assistant basketball coach at Indian Hills. Anderson comes to IHCC after stints at College of Southern Idaho and Gonzaga University.
The new Indian Hills coach was an assistant the past five years at CSI, starting as a volunteer and advancing into a full-time role on the staff of Jared Phay. He was involved in all facets of the CSI program, including recruiting, scouting and conducting sessions for player development. Southern Idaho faced Indian Hills twice this past season with the nationally-ranked teams splitting those games.
"I really respect Coach (Hank) Plona and the way he runs his program and the success he has had in the last four years," Anderson said about joining the IHCC staff. "When you consider the great history here at Indian Hills I am excited about the opportunity to help contribute to even more success in the future."
CSI sent 35 players on to four-year colleges with Anderson on the staff there. "My five years of NJCAA experience have helped me understand that developing a relationship with each student-athlete is extremely important in trying to help them do their best every single day," Anderson said. "I want to see them succeed in the classroom, the community and on the court."
Anderson's coaching career began as a video coordinator and camp director at Gonzaga. He became the video coordinator and assistant director of operations during his final year at the school in Spokane, Washington. In his five years at Gonzaga they had a record of 139-34, made five consecutive NCAA tournament appearances and won at least one game in each of those trips.
As a player, Anderson captained the team at the University of Illinois at Springfield as a senior and was a part of the first conference championship team and first national tourney squad. He was the captain of his Pontiac Township High School team for four seasons and helped lead them to their first conference title in 20 years.
Anderson earned his bachelor's degree in accounting and business administration from Illinois at Springfield and his master's in sport and athletic administration from Gonzaga.