Photo by: Jeremy Enlow
Tanner Announces Staff Additions
8/9/2023 9:54:00 AM | Men's Basketball
ABILENE – Abilene Christian men's basketball fans will find four new coaches working with Head Coach Brette Tanner and returning assistants Ted Crass and Jon Trilli this year.
Assistant coaches Doug Karleskint, Cinco Boone and Cameron Henderson and graduate assistant Jaylen Franklin have joined the staff since last spring.
Karleskint joins the ACU staff after serving as the head coach at Central Missouri since 2014. He previously had been the head coach at Arkansas Tech and held assistant positions at ATU, Stephen F. Austin, Northwest Missouri, Georgetown College and Fort Scott Community College.
"I am thrilled to have Doug join our staff," said Tanner. "He has spent the last several years as a head coach with great success. I have been lucky enough to coach him as a player, as well as work with him at two previous schools before ACU. He knows the expectations that we have and will do a great job."
Karleskint played at Fort Scott and East Central before finishing his college playing career at MidAmerica Nazarene, where he earned a degree in sports management in 2003.
Boone comes to ACU after a one-year stop at Texas-Arlington. He previously guided Angelo State to more than 100 wins and four Division II South Regional Tournament appearances over seven years. He was promoted to the head coach position at ASU after two seasons as the associate head coach. Boone worked with Tanner at Stephen F. Austin and has now coached at all three Abilene universities.
"I am excited to be working with Coach Boone again," said Tanner. "We were assistants together prior to me coming to Abilene. There is a comfort level between the two of us that will serve each of us well. Cinco has been a successful head coach as well, and has worked under some great leaders."
A native of Elida, N.M., Boone earned his bachelor's degree in mathematics from Eastern New Mexico in 2005 and his graduate degree in sports recreation and management in 2008 from Hardin-Simmons.
Henderson served as an assistant coach at Arkansas-Pine Bluff before coming to the Wildcats. He also had assistant coach posts at Connors State (2011-15) and Central Oklahoma (2015-20) before going to UAPB in 2021.
"Coach Cam is a great addition to ACU and our staff," said Tanner. "He has worked for some guys I really respect. Most recently he has been working for Solomon Bozeman at Arkansas Pine Bluff, who worked with me here. Coach Henderson is a great addition to ACU and the Abilene community."
Henderson played at Connors State and Montana State, earning his bachelor's degree in liberal studies from MSU in 2010.
Franklin had been coaching at Hardin-Simmons before returning to his alma mater this year. He also played internationally for Tbilisi in the Republic of Georgia.
"I am so glad that J Frank is back at ACU! His experience as a player in our program will be invaluable to our current roster," said Tanner. "Jaylen knows how I operate and knows what I want from our players. He can bring a unique perspective that nobody else can when it comes to helping these guys out."
Franklin played four seasons at ACU earning numerous Southland Conference honors, including Freshman of the Year and two-time All-Defensive. He racked up 1,450 points, 418 rebounds, 506 assists and 220 steals. He started every game of his junior and senior seasons.
The newcomers become part of a staff that intends to take the Wildcats to a higher level.
"Synergy among the coaching staff is so important to team success," said Tanner. "I am fortunate to have Coach Crass and Coach Trilli return this year. Both are high-level coaches and we have won a lot of games together over the years. Their unselfishness and team-first attitudes are a major reason why. I have no doubt they are going to help these new guys hit the ground running."
Assistant coaches Doug Karleskint, Cinco Boone and Cameron Henderson and graduate assistant Jaylen Franklin have joined the staff since last spring.
Karleskint joins the ACU staff after serving as the head coach at Central Missouri since 2014. He previously had been the head coach at Arkansas Tech and held assistant positions at ATU, Stephen F. Austin, Northwest Missouri, Georgetown College and Fort Scott Community College.
"I am thrilled to have Doug join our staff," said Tanner. "He has spent the last several years as a head coach with great success. I have been lucky enough to coach him as a player, as well as work with him at two previous schools before ACU. He knows the expectations that we have and will do a great job."
Karleskint played at Fort Scott and East Central before finishing his college playing career at MidAmerica Nazarene, where he earned a degree in sports management in 2003.
Boone comes to ACU after a one-year stop at Texas-Arlington. He previously guided Angelo State to more than 100 wins and four Division II South Regional Tournament appearances over seven years. He was promoted to the head coach position at ASU after two seasons as the associate head coach. Boone worked with Tanner at Stephen F. Austin and has now coached at all three Abilene universities.
"I am excited to be working with Coach Boone again," said Tanner. "We were assistants together prior to me coming to Abilene. There is a comfort level between the two of us that will serve each of us well. Cinco has been a successful head coach as well, and has worked under some great leaders."
A native of Elida, N.M., Boone earned his bachelor's degree in mathematics from Eastern New Mexico in 2005 and his graduate degree in sports recreation and management in 2008 from Hardin-Simmons.
Henderson served as an assistant coach at Arkansas-Pine Bluff before coming to the Wildcats. He also had assistant coach posts at Connors State (2011-15) and Central Oklahoma (2015-20) before going to UAPB in 2021.
"Coach Cam is a great addition to ACU and our staff," said Tanner. "He has worked for some guys I really respect. Most recently he has been working for Solomon Bozeman at Arkansas Pine Bluff, who worked with me here. Coach Henderson is a great addition to ACU and the Abilene community."
Henderson played at Connors State and Montana State, earning his bachelor's degree in liberal studies from MSU in 2010.
Franklin had been coaching at Hardin-Simmons before returning to his alma mater this year. He also played internationally for Tbilisi in the Republic of Georgia.
"I am so glad that J Frank is back at ACU! His experience as a player in our program will be invaluable to our current roster," said Tanner. "Jaylen knows how I operate and knows what I want from our players. He can bring a unique perspective that nobody else can when it comes to helping these guys out."
Franklin played four seasons at ACU earning numerous Southland Conference honors, including Freshman of the Year and two-time All-Defensive. He racked up 1,450 points, 418 rebounds, 506 assists and 220 steals. He started every game of his junior and senior seasons.
The newcomers become part of a staff that intends to take the Wildcats to a higher level.
"Synergy among the coaching staff is so important to team success," said Tanner. "I am fortunate to have Coach Crass and Coach Trilli return this year. Both are high-level coaches and we have won a lot of games together over the years. Their unselfishness and team-first attitudes are a major reason why. I have no doubt they are going to help these new guys hit the ground running."
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