Dean Sando, Rick Thompson and Matt Spencer have been added to the SUNY Canton men’s basketball staff as assistant coaches, Head Coach Ben Thompson announced on Friday.
“I couldn’t be happier with our staff for the 2016-2017 season. Our coaches have varied experiences that will fit well with our student-athletes and program. I look forward to working with all of them this season.”
Sando spent the past year in player development with the National Basketball Association’s (NBA’s) Dallas Mavericks who are coached by Lisbon native Rick Carlisle.
“Dean is a guy that I’ve known for several years and have always been impressed with his work ethic and reputation as a grinder in this business,” Ben Thompson said. “His experiences at multiple levels, as well as his recruiting contacts, and player development with the Dallas Mavericks will be invaluable to our program.”
Sando assisted and conducted individual and group workouts with the Mavs entire 15 man roster including multiple NBA All-Stars. In addition he aided the coaching staff in daily shoot-arounds and practices as well as video breakdowns of current NBA players and draft projects.
In addition to his experience with the Mavericks, Sando has also served as a graduate assistant at Columbus State University, the head varsity boys coach at The Lakeside School, assistant varsity boys coach at Excel Christian Academy and an assistant coach at Chattahoochee Tech.
“I am excited for the opportunity to coach at SUNY Canton,” Sando stated. “I want to thank Coach Thompson for the chance to help him as he starts to run the basketball program; I believe in his vision and know how great of a coach he is. I can’t wait to get started and hit the ground running. Go Roos!”
Rick Thompson joins the Roos staff with two decades worth of coaching experience that includes a 1991 VHSL State Championship on his way to being named the VHSL Coach of the Year.
“It is truly an honor to have my father on staff with us this season,” Ben Thompson noted. “Growing up in a coach’s home and seeing the impact that he had on so many individuals was an inspiration to me and is a huge reason for me becoming a college basketball coach. Having him with us is a dream come true for me and his experience with over 20 years in coaching will be crucial to our success this season.”
Rick Thompson most recently served as the Head Boys and Girls Coach at Saint Paul High School in Virginia for 14 years. He coached three 1,000 point scorers as the team reached three Regional Tournaments, the first of which came after a 20 year absence from the tournament. He also held head coaching positions at Pocahontas, Honaker and Lebanon High Schools and served as the Athletic Director at Castlewood High School. He coached six 1,000 point scorers as well as the VHSL West All-Star Team at Lebanon.
“I am very excited to be a part of the staff at SUNY Canton and work under the direction of my son,” Rick Thompson said. “I am anxious to work for Coach Thompson and contribute to the success of Kangaroos Men’s Basketball.”
The final member of the SUNY Canton coaching staff is Matt Spencer who spent two seasons on the hardwood competing for the Roos.
“Matt is a young man who I met early on in this process and became very impressed with,” Thompson said. “As a former student-athlete, his corporate knowledge of SUNY Canton and respect level within our locker room will be an incredible asset for our program.”
Spencer started all 24 contests he appeared in during the 2015-16 season posting a team-best 31 blocks to go with 99 rebounds and 74 points. He scored a season-high eight points to go with six rebounds in just 13 minutes of action in an 85-60 win at SUNY Potsdam.
“I am happy to continue my basketball career as a student assistant coach. I look forward to gaining knowledge and experience of the game from Coach Thompson and the rest of the staff as I continue to work towards my dreams.”
