Florida men’s basketball head coach Mike White announced the hiring of Armon Gates as associate head coach on Sunday. Gates fills the position on White’s staff that opened when Dusty May was named head coach at Florida Atlantic.
“We conducted an extensive national search, and Armon kept coming back atop my list,” White said. “UF certainly gets the attention of coaches around the country, so we went through a thorough process, and he was my ultimate target.
“Armon, like Jordan Mincy and Darris Nichols, is a rising star in this industry,” White continued. “He brings infectious energy and has won everywhere he’s been. He has worked with and for some really great coaches and is a proven recruiter, and he will be a fantastic fit for our culture. His breadth of knowledge and experiences will benefit the Florida program in all facets.”
Gates comes to Florida after five seasons at Northwestern, where he helped the Wildcats achieve their first NCAA Tournament appearance and NCAA Tournament win in program history in 2017.
“First of all, I would like to thank Coach White and the current Gator staff for accepting me to be a part the Florida basketball family,” Gates said. “I can’t express how excited I am to be a part of the Gator Nation! The rich tradition of the University of Florida was too enticing to pass up. I will forever be grateful to Coach Collins, Dr. Phillips and Northwestern University.
“I cannot wait to experience the Rowdy Reptiles! Go Gators!”
Gates, a Chicago native, has coached all-conference performers at three different schools during his career. He has coached on the Northwestern staff since 2013 when Chris Collins took over the NU program. He helped the Wildcats to a pair of 20-win seasons and an 88-77 overall record, along with the aforementioned NCAA Tournament berth. He also helped bring a top-30 class to Northwestern in 2014, and he helped Drew Crawford post an All-Big Ten season in 2013-14.
Prior to coaching at Northwestern, Gates spent two seasons at Loyola Chicago (2011-13) during Porter Moser’s first to seasons leading the program. During his time with the Ramblers, Ben Averkamp earned All-Horizon League honors.
Gates spent the 2010-11 campaign as an assistant at TCU, working with the Horned Frogs’ guards and helping Hank Thorns become a third-team All-Mountain West Conference selection.
Prior to his season at TCU, Gates spent two seasons (2008-10) as an assistant coach at Kent State, helping the Golden Flashes to the 2009-10 Mid-American Conference regular-season title. In his final year at Kent State, Gates was part of a staff that guided the Golden Flashes to the second round of the NIT.
Gates began his coaching career as a graduate staff assistant at Western Kentucky. In his lone season on the Hilltoppers’ staff, the team recorded a 29-7 overall record and reached the NCAA Sweet 16.
During his playing days at Kent State, Gates helped the Golden Flashes to a 88-42 record and three postseason appearances. Kent State recorded four straight 20-win seasons during his time on campus and he closed out his career tied for second in school history with 200 3-point field goals.
Gates graduated from Kent State in 2006 with a degree in leisure studies and earned his master’s degree in sports administration from the same institution in 2007. He was a MAC All-Academic selection.
Gates prepped at Hillcrest High School and his brother, Dennis, is currently an assistant coach at Florida State.
http://floridagators.com/news/2018/4/8/mens-basketball-armon-gates-named-associate-head-coach.aspx
