Garner's son accepts coaching job

Matt Garner hates leaving his dad but is thrilled about his first full-time coaching opportunity.

Garner, for the past seven seasons a student assistant coach under his father -- Southeast Missouri State University head men's basketball coach Gary Garner -- recently accepted a position as the assistant head coach at the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs.

Matt Garner begins his duties with the NCAA Division II program next weekend.

"I'm really excited about this opportunity," Garner said. "I have learned so much working for my father. He has taught me so much about life and basketball, but I think I'm ready to go out and be a primary assistant for an NCAA program."

At UCCS, which is coming off a 5-22 season, Garner will be reunited with his former college teammate Lance Hammond, who recently became the Mountain Lions' head coach. Hammond had previously been a UCCS assistant.

Garner and Hammond played at Fort Hays (Kan.) State in 1996 when the Tigers went undefeated and won the Division II national championship with Gary Garner as their head coach.

"I really think Lance Hammond is an excellent coach and I'm excited about working with him," Garner said.

Said Hammond, "I'm extremely excited to have Matt out here. Obviously when you hire an assistant you want somebody you feel comfortable with and will be loyal. Matt is that type of person. We played together three years and he was a groomsman in my wedding so I know him very well."

At Southeast, the 30-year-old Garner performed a variety of coaching duties in addition to being the director of the Indians' summer camps the past three years.

"Matt was a big help to our program but I think he's ready for this and it's a good opportunity for him," Gary Garner said. "I think he's got a bright coaching future."