Kansas City Men’s Basketball Head Coach Marvin Menzies has officially added three coaches to his staff, bringing on Michael Bowden and Aerick Sanders as assistant coaches and Robert Edwards as the Director of Basketball Operations.
Michael Bowden – Assistant Coach
Michael Bowden will join the Roos’ staff as an assistant coach, having most recently worked at the University of Washington as the Director of Basketball Operations. Bowden has previous connections with Coach Menzies through the University of Louisville.
“My wife, kids and I are extremely grateful to Coach Menzies and Dr. Martin for the opportunity to be an assistant coach for the Kansas City Men’s Basketball program,” Bowden said. “Coach Menzies is a proven leader, winner and man of character. Having both worked for Hall of Fame Head Coach Rick Pitino, I am looking forward to developing an atmosphere of excellence, both on and off the court. Go Roos!”
In Bowden’s assistant coaching role, his duties will include player development, recruiting, scouting and analytics and in-game strategy, as well as professional and personal development of student-athletes.
“I have known Mike for several years through my relationship with Rick Pitino,” Menzies said. “I’m excited about this energy, enthusiasm and love for the game. Wearing several hats and working in different capacities at high-level programs have prepared him to join the Roo family.”
Bowden spent four total seasons on coach Mike Hopkins’s staff at Washington, spending the first two years as the Director of Special Projects, and the two most recent years in the DOBO position. In his four years, the Huskies compiled a 64-62 record, making an appearance in the second round of the 2019 NCAA Tournament. From 2019-21, Washington had four players selected in the NBA draft, including three first-round picks.
Prior to his time in Washington, Bowden was on the Louisville staff for four years. He spent two seasons as the Director of Operations, seeing the Cardinals reach the postseason in both years. He also spent a season each as the Director of Video Operations and as an assistant video coordinator. While at Louisville, he spent two months in the summer of 2015 assisting Coach Pitino with duties as coach of the Puerto Rico National Team.
For three years, Bowden was the video coordinator for the Maryland women’s basketball team, preparing scouting videos and highlight packages and serving as co-director for camps. During his tenure, the Terrapins reached and NCAA Elite Eight, Sweet 16 and Final Four, posting a combined 85-20 record. Additionally, Maryland won the 2012 ACC Tournament.
From 2009-11, Bowden served as video coordinator for the University of South Florida women’s basketball team. He was a graduate manager for Tulsa during the 2008-09 season.
Bowden got his start at the University of Florida, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in physical education with a coaching emphasis in 2008. He was a volunteer manager for the Gators’ men’s basketball team in 2007-08, and spent four years with the women’s basketball team, working on the scout team and assisting coaches with film breakdowns and scouting reports. He also worked for three summers with the Clifford Ray & Robert Parrish Big Man Camp (2006-08) and with the Pete Newell Big Man Camp in 2007.
Originally from Venice, Fla., Bowden graduated from Venice HS in 2003, where he was a captain on the basketball team.
He and his wife Stephanie have two children, Penelope and Maxwell. Stephanie is an Overland Park native and was a student-athlete at Blue Valley Northwest HS.
Bowden is a member of the NABC.
Aerick Sanders – Assistant Coach
Aerick Sanders joins the Kansas City Roos Men’s Basketball staff as an assistant coach, reuniting with Coach Menzies for the third time. The pair previously worked together at both New Mexico State and UNLV.
Sanders brings a wealth of experience and knowledge of the game to the table. A former All-Mountain West honoree, he spent six years playing professionally overseas before returning stateside to join the coaching ranks.
“Aerick was our first-ever signee at San Diego State, hence we have a long-standing relationship,” Menzies said. “He has been a winner, both as a player and a coach. I’m excited to have him back with me as we build Kansas City Men’s Basketball.”
In 2021-22, Sanders was an assistant coach at Southern Utah under Head Coach Todd Simon. In his season with the Thunderbirds, they finished with a 23-12 record, the second-most wins in program history. Finishing second in the Big Sky standings, the Thunderbirds made a postseason run to the semifinals of The Basketball Classic. In addition, three players were named to All-Big Sky teams.
Across the 2017-19 seasons, Sanders was the Director of Player Personnel under Coach Menzies at UNLV. The Runnin’ Rebels moved up in the Mountain West standings both years while Sanders was on the sidelines, finishing seventh in 2017-18 and fourth in 2018-19. In his first season, UNLV won 20 games for the first time in four seasons, and Brandon McCoy was named Mountain West Freshman of the Year.
For four years prior to his UNLV stint, Sanders was on the New Mexico State sidelines, making three NCAA Tournament appearances and an NIT showing. For the first three years, he coached alongside Menzies, and in his final year he was an assistant to Coach Paul Weir.
Across his four years with the Aggies, they posted a 100-38 record, including a 49-9 mark in Western Athletic Conference play.
Sanders began his coaching career at Montana State in 2012-13, leading the Bobcats to a fourth-place finish in the Big Sky standings.
In addition to coaching, Sanders has also owned and operated the Sanders Sports Academy, aiding players in skill development.
Sanders put together a professional playing career from 2004-10, making stops in France, Latvia, Israel, Spain and Turkey.
He played his college ball for Coach Steve Fisher at San Diego State, while Menzies was on the sidelines as an assistant from 1999-2003. In his senior year with the Aztecs, he was an All-Mountain West selection and team captain, averaging 16.1 points and 9.8 rebounds. He also helped lead SDSU to a Mountain West Tournament championship and NCAA Tournament bid in 2002.
Sanders received his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from San Diego State in 2006 and his Master’s in Education from New Mexico State in 2019.
He has a son, Avery, and a daughter, Embry.
Robert Edwards – Director of Basketball Operations
Robert Edwards has been added to the Roos’ Men’s Basketball staff as the Director of Basketball Operations. Edwards, a Kansas City native, spent the past two seasons as the Video Coordinator at the University of New Mexico.
“I am excited to join the men’s basketball staff here at Kansas City and work for Coach Menzies,” Edwards said. ‘Kansas City is home for me, so the opportunity to help build this program is one I could not pass up. Coach Menzies has a track record of success, and I am grateful for the opportunity to learn from him and the rest of the staff.”
As Director of Operations, Edwards will take on many roles, including the organization of all travel arrangements, including air, bus, hotel and dining arrangements. He will coordinate practice times and organize itineraries for official and unofficial visits, and will assist in updating the team’s recruiting database.
“I’ve had the opportunity to watch Robert operate at the Division One level for the last few years,” Menzies said. “I’ve been impressed with his work ethic, professionalism and integrity. Being a Kansas City native, Robert has also helped in our seamless transition here.”
From 2020-22, Edwards was at New Mexico, where he was responsible for handling video for the Lobos, including game film exchange, recording and clipping of practices and scout video. From Edwards’s first-to-second season, New Mexico posted a seven-win improvement.
Prior to his time at New Mexico, Edwards spent a year at Texas A&M Corpus Christi, where he served as the Video Coordinator for a year. There, he was responsible for preparing analytics and scouting reports of opposing teams, while also overseeing all game film recording and exchange.
While pursuing his master’s degree, Edwards spent two seasons at the University of Nevada under Head Coach Eric Musselman, serving as a graduate assistant coach. The Wolf Pack saw success during his time on campus, winning two Mountain West regular season championships, qualifying to the NCAA Tournament both years and making a Sweet Sixteen appearance in his first season. Overall, the Wolf Pack went 58-13 in his two years, tying the single season program record for victories both seasons (29).
In 2016, Edwards received his bachelor’s degree in communications with a minor in coaching at the University of Nebraska. With there, he spent four seasons as a manager for the Huskers’ men’s basketball team. In his final year, he was the head student manager.
Raised in Overland Park, Kan., Edwards graduated from Blue Valley West HS in 2012.
https://kcroos.com/news/2022/6/8/three-coaches-added-to-mens-basketball-staff.aspx
