Saint Mary’s College head men’s basketball coach Mickey McConnell announced today the addition of Hardy Asprilla as associate head coach for the Gaels.
Asprilla joins Saint Mary’s after spending the past 13 years at Cal Baptist University, including the last seven years as the associate head coach for the Lancers.
“We are thrilled to add such a high-level coach in Hardy to the program,” McConnell said. “He has a tremendous amount of experience on the West Coast and brings strong coaching, recruiting and leadership to Saint Mary’s. He is a perfect fit for our program and institution.”
Asprilla is coming off the most successful year in CBU history, winning a conference championship and reaching the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history. He spent the past 13 years under former Saint Mary’s assistant coach Rick Croy at CBU.
“I couldn’t be more excited for my family and I to be joining the Saint Mary’s basketball program. I’ve been a big admirer of this program for a long time because of its toughness, discipline, and winning culture.” stated Coach Asprilla, “I’m excited to get to work, and build relationships with our players, those on campus, and the entire Saint Mary’s community as a whole.”
A former member of the Colombian National Team and Cal State Fullerton standout, Asprilla spent the 2013 season as an assistant coach at his alma mater, helping interim Head Coach Andy Newman.
Prior to that, Asprilla spent two seasons as the lead assistant at Humboldt State, helping the Jacks to a school-record 26-4 record and a California Collegiate Athletic Association title in 2010-11 and a 22-8 mark in 2011-12, reaching the NCAA Division II West Region Championships both seasons. The Jacks also won a CCAA Tournament title as well.
Asprilla’s coaching career began in 2005-06 when he spent two seasons as a graduate assistant at Cal State Fullerton under Head Coach Bob Burton.
A transfer from the College of the Sequoias, Asprilla played two seasons for the Titans from 2003-05, averaging 8.5 points and 8.8 rebounds as a senior.
Following his collegiate playing career, Asprilla spent time with the Colombian National Team, competing in numerous tournaments throughout South America, as well as playing professionally with the Bucaros in his hometown of Bucaramanga. He was named the finals MVP in leading Bucaros to a national championship.
Asprilla graduated from Cal State Fullerton with a bachelor’s in kinesiology in 2005 and later earned his master’s in kinesiology in 2009. He and his wife, Shannon, have a daughter and a son.
