Southern Wesleyan Men’s Basketball and Head Coach Brian Hewitt have announced the addition of Joel Stites to the Warriors’ coaching staff.
“I am super excited to welcome Coach Stites to our Warrior family,” said Coach Hewitt. “He brings a great deal of success and experience to our program. I am really looking forward to working alongside him for years to come, and I couldn’t be more thankful for what he and his wife, Kris, are willing to do to make this endeavor happen. With his help, we hope to make this program as successful as it can possibly be. Go Warriors!”
Dr. Joel Stites will join the Warriors from Valdosta, Georgia where he has been an accomplished head basketball coach, at the men’s varsity level in high school, spanning over 13 years. In that time, he compiled nearly 230 wins while coaching in both the private and public school levels. Under his guidance, his teams have had remarkable success with nine trips to the Sweet Sixteen, two Final Four appearances, and a State Championship in 2017.
At the conclusion of the 2017 season, Stites earned the GISA Coach of the Year. His 2017 team achieved a ranking as the NAAPS #2 team in the nation. During the last decade as a coach, his teams have had no less than a winning record. He has been privileged to have over a dozen players receive offers to play beyond high school level.
Beyond his coaching achievements, Stites has been blessed with a 23 year career in dentistry. He received his Doctorate from The Ohio State University College of Dentistry and completed an AEGD residency at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. He served as a Captain in the United States Air Force Dental Squadron for three years, finishing at Moody Air Force Base in Valdosta, Georgia. He has been a staff doctor at South Georgia Medical Center for 18 years, and has served as the Chief of Dentistry.
He met his wife, Kristina, in Valdosta and has been married to her for 15 years. Together, they have helped shape the lives of countless players.
“I am blessed to have the opportunity to join Coach Hewitt and the SWU family,” commented Coach Stites. “I am eager to continue my pursuit of equipping young men, not only basketball, but in life, using a Christ-centered mindset.”
https://swuathletics.com/news/2023/10/5/mens-basketball-adds-stites-as-assistant-coach.aspx
