University of North Alabama men’s basketball head coach Tony Pujol has announced the completion of his staff for the 2022-23 season. The Lions promoted a former staffer to assistant coach and welcomed four new additions.
“Our program is extremely excited to have back a familiar face as well as welcome new ones,” said Pujol, who enters his fifth season at the helm of the program. “Each one of these men bring a unique skill set, but all of them possess an enthusiasm and dedication for the game and serving our student-athletes. We are excited for this new era of North Alabama Basketball.”
After spending one season as director of player development for the Lions, Carter Heston was promoted to assistant coach in June. During his year as director of payer development, Heston was responsible for scouting, player development and academic management.
Prior to his arrival in Florence, Heston served as an assistant coach at Texas A&M University-Texarkana. While there, he helped lead the Eagles to an 11-4 season, their first national ranking, and a berth in the 2020 NAIA national tournament.
In addition, Heston has extended experience with NBA Player Development. He worked for Philadelphia Sixers consultant and longtime NBA trainer Phil Beckner. During this experience, he trained multiple NBA players, including Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, McKinley Wright and Darius Bazley.
In the summer of 2021, Heston worked with Beyond Sports Management and Dig Deep Basketball, helping prepare current NBA players Jae’Sean Tate and Isaiah Hartenstein for their seasons. He also worked with multiple players during their NBA pre-draft process.
Originally from Milwaukee, Wisc., Heston has additional experience coaching camps in southeast Wisconsin. In addition, he trained multiple college players at the Division I and Division II levels.
Heston graduated from the University of Alabama in 2020 with a Degree in finance with a specialization in real estate.
Sean Foley has been named director of basketball operations. He comes to UNA after spending one year as an assistant coach at Division III powerhouse Christopher Newport in Virginia. During his time at CNU, he helped the Captains to a 27-3 overall record and an Elite 8 appearance in the Division III national tournament during the 2021-22 campaign.
Prior to CNU, he spent two years as assistant coach and director of recruiting at Eastern Nazarene College from 2019-2021. Foley’s coaching experience also includes spending four years at C. Milton Wright High School, helping the program to a 3A Maryland State title and an overall record of 70-28 over the four-year span. He also had stints at St. Paul’s School and Eastern Tech High School.
In addition to coaching, Foley is a member of Rising Coaches, oversees operations and social media for The Nerd Team of the TBT and has worked numerous camps, including the Coaching Development Program at Jay Bilas Skills Camp.
Foley graduated from McDaniel College in 2015 with a Bachelor of Arts in exercise science/physical education with minors in coaching and athletic training. He earned his master’s degree in 2019 from McDaniel College in kinesiology with a concentration in athletic administration.
Leo Stern enters his first season North Alabama as the director of sports performance. He came to UNA from Southeast Missouri State as a graduate assistant serving one year with both men’s and women’s basketball.
Prior to his time at SEMO, Stern was an intern at the University of Kentucky, working with football and men’s basketball. During his time at Kentucky he was also able to work with NBA and NFL alumni of the university.
While at Carthage College, Stern was a student strength coach where he assisted with men’s and women’s basketball, lacrosse and volleyball during his junior year, leading workouts and designing training programs for men’s basketball and lacrosse his senior year before leaving for Kentucky.
A former NCAA Division III basketball player, Stern worked two strength & conditioning internships with the College of The Holy Cross working with the football team and another in the private sector working with hockey players ranging from youth to professional.
Stern graduated from Carthage College in 2021 and holds an undergraduate degree in exercise and sports science and certifications in CSCS, CPR/AED and USAW. He will continue to work towards his master’s degree at UNA.
Justin Wakefield was named the director of player development. Before coming to North Alabama, he was on staff at Farragut High School where he helped the boy’s basketball team to the region championship and its first substate appearance in more than 20 years.
In 2018, Wakefield began his first coaching position as the varsity head coach at Maryville Christian School in Tennessee where he won a state championship. He moved on to South Carolina powerhouse Dorman High School in 2019.
After graduating in 2014, Wakefield started his own business, Wakefield Workouts (2013-2021) as a basketball trainer where he worked with some of the top talent is East Tennessee at the high school, college and pro level. He worked camp and clinics with standouts such as Elston Turner, Allan Houston and NBA G league affiliate Texas Legends.
He began working in collegiate athletics as a student assistant for Tennessee Tech University from 2011-2014. Wakefield graduated from TTU in 2014 with a degree in exercise science: fitness and wellness.
Tommy Holmes is in his first season as North Alabama’s video coordinator, and is involved in game preparation, self-scouting, breaking down game film and other administrative duties.
Holmes previously served as a student manager for the Oklahoma State basketball program for four years and acted as head manager in the 2021-2022 season. His duties included tracking statistics, recruiting projects and video operations, as well as day-to-day administrative tasks.
A native of Fallston, Maryland, Holmes earned his bachelor’s degree from Oklahoma State. Additionally, Holmes worked as a student manager for North Harford High School and Harford Community College.
https://www.roarlions.com/news/2022/9/4/mens-basketball-mens-basketball-completes-staff.aspx
