Coach Cutter Announces 2017-18 Assistant Coaching Staff

DEFIANCE, OHIO -- The Defiance College men's basketball program has announced that Sterling Johnson has taken over as a full-time assistant coach with the program, while they have also announced the addition of Chad Carlson as a graduate assistant and Cornelius Hester as a volunteer assistant coach for the 2017-18 season.

Johnson is a 2016 graduate of Saginaw Valley State University, where he was a four-year member of the basketball program. SVSU had their winningest season in school history during his senior campaign, where his team finished with 25 victories and an NCAA Division II Midwest Regional Championship, where they fell in the Elite Eight.

"Sterling has been a tremendous asset to our porgram over the last year and I was elated when I found out we were going to be able to turn his position into a full-time spot," Cutter said of the hire. "He earned his spot by by making a major impact on our program by being heavily involved in recruiting, on-court coaching, and scouting upcoming opponents this past season."

He also gained experience in coaching with young children at basketball camps at SVSU, as well as at the University of Michigan and at Oakland (Mich.) University, where he helped to teach them the fundamentals of the game, as well as develop their all around game through drills and games. He was also a member of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee at SVSU.

Carlson is a 2017 graduate of Hope (Mich.) College, where he was a four-year member of their varsity basketball team and a two-year captain. Carlson led Hope to back-to-back Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association regular-season titles, and into the NCAA Division III Tournament in his final two seasons, as well.

"We are extremely excited to add Chad Carlson to our staff," Cutter explained. "During his playing career, he was known for his leadership, toughness, and ability as a great three-point shooter. Chad made a tremendous imporession on me and other Defiance College members during the interview process, and I feel his is going to be a great asset for our program."

Carlson also holds the school-record at Hope for three-point field goals made in a game, season, and career. During his senior season, Carlson set the school-record for minutes played in a season at the school.

Cornelius Hester has been added as a volunteer member of the coaching staff for the 2017-18 season. Hester has experience coaching at the high school and AAU levels in Defiance.

"We're excited to have Cornelius Hester join us as an assistant coach. He is well respected in the northwest Ohio basketball community and has worked countless hours developing young players in this area," Cutter said of added Hester to the staff. 

Hester is aso the founder of the Ohio Reign AAU basketball program, who plays out of Defiance and is the owner of Custom Tees & Apparel, a retail store located in Defiance.

The men's basketball season is set to open on Wednesday, Nov. 15 as the Yellow Jackets host Ohio Midwestern College at the Karl H. Weaner Center at 7:30 p.m.