University of Washington head coach Lorenzo Romar has announced that Michael Porter will join his staff as an assistant coach, pending a background check. Brad Jackson will move into the role of special assistant to the head coach.
“We’re extremely excited to have Mike and his family join us,” said Romar. “I’ve known him for many years and he will be a very valuable addition to our coaching staff. Mike has a very high level of experience in player development and also provides a network of recruiting in the Midwest that we have not really been able to tap into. There’s no doubt he will help our program continue to grow and be a great mentor to our guys.”
“I am extremely humbled and excited to have the opportunity to join the UW men’s basketball program,” said Porter. “The admiration, trust and respect my wife, Lisa, and I have for Lorenzo Romar stems from many years of watching how he lives his life and handles his business. I’m grateful for the chance to work with and learn from a man who exemplifies everything I want to be as a husband, father and coach.”
Porter comes to Seattle after spending three very successful years as an assistant coach on the Missouri Women’s Basketball staff where he helped the program progress each season. The Tigers’ record improved every year Porter was involved and was capped off by the 2015-16 season where they advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament thanks to their first NCAA Tournament win since 2001. Missouri also recorded its first 22-win season in 32 years, finishing with an overall record of 22-10.
Porter’s role with the team included the structuring of the practice plans and individual workouts while also assisting as a mentor for the Tiger guards. He served as one of the main recruiters for the Mizzou staff and helped land Columbia natives and highly-touted recruits Sophie Cunningham, Bri and Cierra Porter.
Cunningham, the first McDonald’s All-American at Mizzou, became the first SEC Freshman of the Year in program history and set an SEC record with six Freshman of the Week awards. Additionally she was one of eight finalists for the USBWA National Freshman of the Year Award. Cierra Porter was also named to the SEC All-Freshman Team.
In 2014-15, Mizzou recorded a 19-14 record, which was the most wins since the 2005-06 season. The Tigers also advanced to the quarterfinals of the WNIT and the two postseason victories were the most for the program since 2002-03.
Mizzou drained 249 shots from beyond the arc in 2014-15, which was 49 more than any other SEC team, and all but three triples came from the guard position. The Tigers had three players rank in the top 10 in the SEC in treys while no other team had three players in the top 15.
Before his assistant coach role, Porter was the Tigers Director of Basketball operations for three seasons where he was responsible for creating highlight videos and special presentation videos for the basketball program as well as video editing and preparation for opponent scouting. He also played a major part in improving the program’s social media outreach efforts, updating the computer software used in the staff’s daily operations and creating team publications. Porter also served as director of the Mizzou women’s basketball camps.
Prior to joining the AAU coaching ranks, Porter served as head coach of Upward Basketball from 2003-06. With the Upward Sports league, Porter worked with athletes to not only develop their skills on the court, but to hone in on the skills needed to create individuals with strong character and confidence. Porter played professionally for five seasons with Athletes in Action (AIA), competing against some of the best professional, club and national teams from around the world. He also began his coaching career with AIA by traveling to different locations in the United States and Canada, teaching at high-level youth basketball skills camps.
Porter is a 1989 graduate of the University of New Orleans where he spent four years on the men’s basketball team. He and his wife, Lisa, have eight children, Bri, Cierra, Michael, Jr., Jontay, Coban, Jevon, Izaak and Jayda. Bri and Cierra are teammates at Mizzou. Lisa, who is the sister of Mizzou head women’s basketball coach Robin Pingeton, played basketball at Iowa and for the 1983 U.S. Olympic Festival North Team and 1985 USA R. Williams Jones Cup Team. She also played professionally in France.
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Photo Courtesy Washington Athletics
