2002-03 News

Oct. 8, 2002: JUSTIN REES NAMED ASSISTANT WOMEN'S BASKETBALL COACH

The 26-year old Rees has served as an assistant coach for the past three seasons (1999-2002) at NCAA Division II Teikyo Post in Waterbury, Conn. He replaces Brent Brown, who previously accepted an assistant coaching position at NCAA-I Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) following the 2001-02 campaign.

“Justin made an immediate impact during the interview process,” Fisk said. “His coaching and playing experiences at the Division II level will be a tremendous asset to our program.

“He’s a vocal person and has excellent communication skills, which will allow him to handle most of our recruiting responsibilities.”

In addition to his coaching duties at Teikyo Post, Rees also was the school’s equipment manager for two years. The Eagles concluded the 2001-02 campaign with an 8-18 mark under third-year head coach Paul Ebbs after finishing the 2000-01 season at 13-14 overall and a earning a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference playoff berth.

Prior to his appointment at Teikyo Post, Rees worked in the broadcast industry. From 1997-1999, he was the producer and co-host of “Champions of Talk,” a locally-syndicated radio talk show in Melbourne, Fla. Rees also worked as a board operator and public service announcement director at WMEL-Radio in Melbourne from September 1997 to September 1998. He was a broadcast technician and studio camera operator at WTNH-TV in New Haven, Conn., from March to October 2000.

The 6-8 Rees was a four-year letterwinner at Barry University in Miami Shores, Fla., where he competed in men’s basketball from 1993-1997. While with the Buccaneers, Rees compiled 312 points and 248 rebounds while starting 15 games in 102 career appearances. He graduated from Barry in 1997 with a bachelor’s degree in broadcast communications after averaging 4.7 points and 3.2 rebounds per game as a senior. The Buccaneers were 68-41 overall during his playing career and posted a school-best 9-5 Sunshine State Conference mark in 1996-97.

“Justin will primarily work with our post players, but his knowledge of the game is not limited to that area,” said Fisk. “He’s versatile and also capable of contributing ideas to make our perimeter players better.

“It’s refreshing to bring in a new staff member who’s so enthusiastic and has a different way of teaching things to our players.”

As a prepster, Rees was a two-time (1991-1993) team Most Valuable Player Award winner at Majory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla. Rees, a two-year (1991-93) team captain, earned all-district and all-state honorable mention accolades as a senior while garnering county all-star honors under head coach Scott Cromwell. He led the Eagles in both field goal percentage and rebounds three consecutive seasons and was named to the 1992 Kreul Classic All-Tournament Team, which featured some of the top high school players in the country.

A 1993 Majory Stoneman Douglas graduate, Rees is the son of Don and Robyn Rees of Palm Bay, Fla., and has one brother, Alan (31).

Ferris State will open the 2002-03 campaign Saturday, Nov. 16, in a 2 p.m. (EST) exhibition contest at NCAA-I Kent State (Ohio). The Bulldogs return eight letterwinners return from last season’s squad, which was 14-12 overall and 11-7 in the GLIAC’s North Division (4th Place). FSU will host St. Francis (Ind.) Saturday, Nov. 23, in a 1 p.m. (EST) season-opening non-conference encounter at FSU’s Jim Wink Arena in Big Rapids, Mich.