Graceland University head men’s basketball coach Cory Hoff has added to the Yellowjacket coaching staff for the 2019-20 season.
Hoff adds Ernest Shand and Justin Hogue who previously coached with Coach Hoff before.
“I couldn’t be more excited to have Coach Shand and Coach Hogue join our staff at Graceland,” remarked Hoff. “I have had the opportunity to work with both of them in the past and they believe in the same things that we do here at Graceland. They are not only big-time coaches but also two of the best people I know. They will bring great value to our program and we look forward to welcoming them to the Lamoni community.”
Coach Ernest Shand
The 2019-20 season will mark the first for Ernest Shand as an Assistant Coach & Recruiting Coordinator for the Graceland University Yellowjacket Men’s Basketball program.
Coach Shand arrives in Lamoni most recently from Albany, GA where he coached at Albany State University (NCAA DII). In his role at Albany St., he assisted in the daily operations of the Golden Rams program and was specifically responsible for on-court/in-game coaching, opponent scouting along with recruiting and player skill development.
His efforts helped lead the Golden Rams to a 12-5 regular season conference record; good enough for a second place finish in the East Division of the SIAC – the program’s best since 2012-13. Their 14 wins overall are the most since 2013-14. The Golden Rams season concluded in the SIAC final four where Shand coached two All-conference players – their best finish since 2007.
In 2001-02, while at Genesee Community College, Coach Shand completed a Coaching Internship where he assisted in day-to-day basketball operations as well as on-court coaching and coordinating on-campus recruiting visits for the school’s first-ever NJCAA Div. II, Region III, District 18 Championship team. Going 28-5 that season, they were also the institution’s first-ever NJCAA Div. II Men’s Basketball National Championship Tournament participant finishing sixth in the nation.
Coach Shand then attended the SUNY Institute of Technology (SUNYIT) where he was a Student Assistant while gaining his first experience in recruiting at the NCAA DIII level. He was later hired as an Assistant Coach where the 2005-06 Wildcats were among the school’s most successful ever – earning their first-ever post-season victory along the way to the school’s first-ever SUNYAC Championship game appearance. Coach Shand was responsible for creating opponent scouting reports and helped assemble one of the programs’ strongest recruiting classes that year; most notably, he recruited the university’s all-time leader in steals and assists in a season & career.
In 2007, Coach Shand was named the Boys Varsity Basketball Head Coach at Salt River HS in Scottsdale, Arizona. He became the winningest boys’ basketball coach at Salt River and then again at Horizon Honors HS in Ahwatukee/Phoenix, AZ. His 2011-12 team tied the school record with 19 wins in a season and posted back-to-back winning seasons for the first time in school history. By the end of 2014-15, he captured win number 100 overall in his career.
Born and raised in Brooklyn, NY on June 28, 1979 – Coach Shand graduated from SUNYIT with a Bachelor of Art degree in Sociology (2004) and earned a Master of Education degree from Northern Arizona University (2007) in Educational Leadership. His children – Sydney (11) & Malachy (7, pronounced Mal-a-kai) reside in Arizona.
“I’m honored & truly grateful to our Head Coach Cory Hoff and Athletic Director Brady McKillip for welcoming me as a member of the Graceland University Yellowjacket family,” said Shand. “I’ve closely watched and enjoyed Coach Hoff’s success since he arrived at Graceland and now, I not only get to work with him again but fully submerge myself in the culture and support here in Lamoni.”
Coach Justin Hogue
Justin Hogue enters his first season as an assistant coach at Graceland University.
Prior to his arrival to Graceland, Coach Hogue spent four seasons serving as a youth club coach in the San Antonio metro region. Hogue served as the Director of Player Development and the Head Coach for eight teams during his club tenure. Hogue also was the Founder of the San Antonio Youth Basketball (SAYB) organization. He was able to assemble a strong win percentage while developing his youth athletes both on and off-the-court. Hogue looks forward to utilizing his familiarity with the Central and South Texas basketball scene as a recruiting base for Graceland.
Coach Hogue began his coaching career at Mesa CC (AZ) under the tutelage of the legendary Sam Ballard. Hogue spent three seasons on the Thunderbird staff from 2011 to 2014, including the last two seasons working alongside Coach Hoff. The Thunderbirds compiled an overall record of 67-24 (73.6%) with Hogue on staff, including a conference record of 50-14 (78.1%) in the ACCAC. Career highlights include:
- 2011 & 2013 Fiesta Bowl Junior College Shootout Championship
- 2012-13 ACCAC Regular Season Runner-up
- 2013-14 ACCAC Regular Season Championship
- 2013–14 NJCAA Division I Region 1 Playoff Championship
Coach Hogue was born in Alexandria, Louisana, but grew up all over South Texas, mainly in the San Antonio metro area. The Homestead High School (Fort Wayne, IN) graduate in 2000 decided to serve his country after graduation and joined the United States Army.
During his six years of duty in the 1st Calvary Division, Hogue made two trips to Iraq, including one to Baghdad and another to Al Mamidiyah.
“I want to extend a thank you to Athletic Director Brady McKillip and Vice President Scott Briell for welcoming me to the Graceland Yellowjacket Family,” said Hogue. “I have a great deal of respect for Coach Hoff and his ability as a coach and look forward to supporting him and the program any way that I can. I am excited about the potential and opportunities ahead and look forward to getting to work in Lamoni. Go Yellowjackets!”
