Washington College Director of Athletics Dr. Bryan Matthews has announced the hiring of veteran United States Naval Academy assistant coach Aaron Goodman as the College’s new head men’s basketball coach.
“I would like to thank Dr. Matthews, the search committee, and all of the terrific people I met through the search process for giving me this incredible opportunity,” Goodman noted. “I have been working hard towards becoming a head coach and am honored and fortunate to have been chosen to lead the Washington College men’s basketball program.”
“We are excited to welcome Coach Goodman to our team,” remarked Matthews. “His experience at the Naval Academy has prepared him well for success in recruiting top academic student-athletes and leading young men in their athletic pursuits. We look forward to the resurgence of Washington College men’s basketball under his leadership.”
“Washington College has impressive characteristics that immediately stand out; a world-class educational experience, a beautiful campus, community support, a competitive and thriving athletics culture, a strong alumni base, and a tight knit family atmosphere — all of which will attract talented and well-rounded student-athletes,” Goodman added.
“I am looking forward to getting to know each one of the returning student-athletes as well as the incoming freshman class and discussing with them the new direction, expectations, a renewed enthusiasm, and a new attitude towards a winning culture within the Washington College men’s basketball program. Our basketball program has a storied history and a valued alumni base that will be a significant part in our push towards the top of the Centennial Conference.”
Goodman spent the last nine seasons as an assistant on Navy’s staff, first under Billy Lange and then, for the past four years, under Ed DeChellis. His primary recruiting areas as part of the Midshipmen’s staff were the Mid-Atlantic region and Florida. Goodman coached one All-American, 11 All-Patriot League, and seven Patriot League All-Academic student-athletes. His duties included player development, managing the program’s budget, opponent scouting and game-plan preparation, monitoring the team’s student-athlete tutoring and academic success program, managing community and alumni relations, organizing team travel, and serving as a liason with Naval Academy Prep School and Naval Academy Military staff.
In addition to serving as a varsity assistant coach, Goodman was the head coach of the Navy Basketball Development Team (the Academy’s junior varsity program) for the past three years, running all aspects of that program. The Devleopment Team’s record went from 5-8 to 10-5 to 12-3 over his three seasons as head coach. Goodman also served as an Active Duty Human Resource Operations Officer for the United States Navy for five years.
DeChellis whole-heartedly endorsed Goodman’s hiring at Washington College, stating, “I think Aaron will be a great head basketball coach. He has a wealth of experience and is very knowledgeable and passionate about the profession. He is an outstanding recruiter and a good person.”
Goodman’s first stop in collegiate basketball coaching was a four-year stint as an assistant coach at Marymount University. At Marymount, Goodman helped recruit and develop four All-Capital Athletic Conference and two CAC All-Academic student-athletes. He was the lead fundraiser for the program, increasing fundraising totals threefold. He coordinated the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and oversaw an academic program that resulted in the highest team grade-point average in the team’s history.
Before arriving at Marymount, Goodman was the head junior varsity and assistant varsity boys basketball coach at Sandy Spring Friends School in Olney, Md., where he also served as a junior high school Physical Education teacher.
Since he began coaching, Goodman has worked numerous camps and clinics. As the director of Navy’s summer basketball camp, he tripled that program’s enrollment. He has been a member of the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) since 2001 and has annually attended the Gordon Chiesa Basketball Coaches Workshop since 2007.
Goodman earned a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from Boston University in 1997 and will receive a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Maryland, University College this August. A Maryland native, he graduated from Walter Johnson High School in Bethesda.
Goodman will be the Shoremen’s 14th all-time head coach as they head into their 104th season in 2015-16.
“I have been fortunate to work alongside some some incredible mentors and I would like to personally thank coaches Ed DeChellis, Billy Lange, Scott McClary, and Chuck Driesell for trusting and preparing me for this very special opportunity,” reflected Goodman. “I look forward to assembling a great staff, meeting our new College President, Sheila Bair, and taking the initial steps in leading our basketball program in a positive direction.”
http://washingtoncollegesports.com/sports/mbkb/2015-16/releases/20150518bdv259\
Photo Courtesy Washington College Athletics
