Head Men's Basketball Coach - 11th Year (7th Year @ Miramar College)

Email: Nick Gehler

Nick Gehler enters his seventh year at San Diego Miramar College as Professor of exercise science and athletic director. He enters his sixth season as head men’s basketball coach. As a professor Nick’s expertise lies in health education, exercise science, fitness specialist, and intercollegiate athletics. Nick has helped develop and implement the exercise science program as well as the intercollegiate programs here at San Diego Miramar College to fit the needs of the students and student-athletes in conjunction with the new facilities.

In 2005 Nick was appointed the lead faculty person in the development of the San Diego Miramar College Fieldhouse. He was instrumental from the groundbreaking to completion. The college recently
opened those doors to the new 54,000 square foot facility and the Jets have now played two full seasons
in the athletic fieldhouse. The facility houses the academic and athletic programs for Miramar College.
Coach Gehler, along with other faculty members,  was instrumental in the program development
and equipment purchases. The facility has a gymnasium, two lecture halls, fitness center, dance studio,
training room, and team locker rooms.

As Director of Athletics Nick has developed and implemented two new intercollegiate programs at San
Diego Miramar College as well as jump started the men’s and women’s water polo teams. The basketball
team played its first basketball game in the 2006-2007 where they compiled 5 wins. The women’s soccer
team (Coached by Sean Bowers) played their first game in 2007 and they won eleven games.

The following basketball season (2007-2008) the Jets won 13 games and fell one game short of the
state playoffs. In the 2008-2009 campaign (Third Season) the Jets rallied to 23 (12 in a row) wins and a
regional playoff win at Fullerton College. The Jets then travelled to San Bernardino Valley College for a
regional final (Sweet Sixteen) showdown. The 2009-2010 campaign celebrated another successful year
and back-to-back state playoff appearances. The Jets won 12 out of 14 games down the stretch and
were one of the hottest teams in the southern section.

The 2010-2011 season ended on another exciting note with the Jets defeating their district rival Mesa
College. Coach Gehler also saw four of his sophomores and one freshman matriculate onto four year colleges.
In the five seasons Coach Gehler has led the Jets from 5 wins in the first season to 23 wins and a couple
trips to the California Community College Men’s Basketball State Playoffs.

During these five seasons Gehler has sent twelve players onto four year colleges to continue their
education and their basketball careers.

He has tutored several players such as Breen Weeks, Second
Team All Pacific Coast Athletic Conference, Regis University, Denver, Colorado; David Porter, Mexico
City; Symeon Taylor, Pacifica University in Riverside, California; Pat Eveland a two-time First Team
All Pacific Coast Conference, as well as California Community College First Team All-State Selection,
and eventual signee of the University Of The Pacific and Big West Sixth Man of the Year; Ian Larsson,
Sonoma State; Bryant Taylor and Steven Jones All-Pacific Coast Conference for two years running,
McMurry University, Texas.

Nick began his coaching career as an assistant coach at Palomar College, followed by five years as an
assistant coach at Mira Costa College (1994-1999), mentoring under long-time head coach and California
Community College Hall-of-Famer Clete Adelman. In those five seasons Mira Costa posted most wins in
school history at 27-4 and three trips to the Southern California Regional Finals. Nick helped more than
ten student-athletes matriculate on to four year colleges as students and as student-athletes.

For the 1999-2000 season, Nick worked at the University of California, Irvine under Head Coach Pat
Douglass.

In the fall of 2000, Nick accepted the Head Men’s Basketball Coaching position at Imperial Valley College
and spent five seasons rebuilding the men’s basketball program, developing and implementing summer
camps, and developing an Imperial County High School All-Start Basketball Game.
In those five seasons Nick guided Imperial Valley College to the California Community College State
Playoffs, had two California Community College Men’s Basketball All-State Selections, sent eight student-
athletes on to four year institutions, and was named Pacific Coast Athletic Conference Coach of the Year.

Nick spent his collegiate playing career at Palomar College where he was a two time team captain as well
All Pacific Coast Conference. He then moved on to the University of Northern Colorado where he finished his playing career.

Nick earned a Bachelor’s of Arts in Social Science from California State University San Marcos and a Master’s of Arts in Health, Physical Education from Saint Mary’s College of California.

Nick and wife Tara live in Rancho Bernardo and are the proud parents of daughter Bailey, 11 years old,
Charlie, 8 years old, and Samantha, 3 years old.

Head Associate Coach -- 6th Year @ Miramar College

Coach Egidio enters his sixth season at Miramar College and has been with the program since its inception in 2006.  The Miramar College Jets have risen to be a power the PCAC during that time. They have had many accomplishments including a 23-8 finish in the 2008-2009, producing the school’s first ever All-State player, Pat Eveland (University of the Pacific), and making back to back state playoff appearances.

At Miramar, Coach Egidio acts as the program’s recruiting coordinator and also works closely with the post players in skill development.  John has taken an active role in overseeing the academic progress on the players, helping to coordinate the daily practice planning, and serving as an adjunct faculty in the physical education department at the college.

A native of Vallejo, CA, John participated in basketball, football, and baseball at St. Patrick- St. Vincent High School and graduated from the school in 1998.  He continued his basketball playing career at Napa Valley College for two seasons under Coach Mike Girardi.  Coach Egidio continued his education at the University of California at Davis where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Economics in 2002 and received a Master’s Degree from St. Mary’s College in Sport Administration in 2005.

Prior to joining the staff at Miramar, Coach Egidio served for three seasons at Sierra College in Rocklin, CA.  There he worked closely with head coach John Fusano to grow the basketball program during Fusano’s first three seasons at the College.  Sierra showed steady improved over Egidio’s three seasons there, culminating in a 16 win season in the 2003-2004 season.

He currently resides in Rancho Bernardo, CA.

Assistant Men's Basketball Coach -- 3rd Year @ Miramar College

Email : Kwaku Amoaku

Coach Amoaku is in his third year with the staff as Assistant Coach. Kwaku was born in Maryland and raised in Dayton, Ohio, where he attended Carroll High School. He had a very good career at San Marcos High School, which gave him the opportunity to play at Miracosta Junior College.

He then went on to matriculate to Division II Grand Canyon University where he graduated with a degree in Justice Studies and a minor in Social Science.

Coach Amoaku started his coaching career at his alma mater as Head J.V. Coach. In the 3 years there, he compiled a 57-9 record. Prior to joining the staff at Miramar, he was assistant varsity coach and for San Marcos High for 3 years.

In 2007, the Knights were Division II semifinalists. Kwaku currently still coaches club ball for Coastal Elite.

Kwaku works to develop our post players and serves as a recruiter.

Kwaku Amoaku is son of Ellen Amoaku and has 7 brothers and sisters.

Assistant Men's Basketball Coach  -- 3rd Year @ Miramar College

Email : Brian Hershman

Brian started his coaching career in Tucson, Arizona. He started off as an Assistant Varsity Coach for the Tucson High Badgers. During his year at Tucson High, the team went 23-6 and won the city section. He spent his next two years coaching one of the best club programs in Arizona, "Team Zona." Many of his club team players went on to play at the Varsity level as freshmen at their respective high schools.

In 2007, Brian graduated from the University of Arizona with a degree in Physical Education and Coaching. During his junior and senior year, Brian got involved with the Arizona Wildcats basketball program under the supervision of Josh Pastner (Memphis Head Coach) and Hall of Famer Lute Olson.

In San Diego, Brian coached at his alma mater Scripps Ranch High School.  As a player, Brian played Varsity for Scripps Ranch and in 2003, their team finished in the Top 10 in San Diego and were CIF Div II Semi Finalalists. He started as Freshman Head Coach and founded the Scripps Basketball Club, which featured a 5th to 8th grade club team. Brian went 24-10 as Head Freshman Coach. Brian was named Interim Varsity Head Coach for the Spring and Summer program and enthusiastically led the entire High School program during the coaches transistion.

Brian  is entering his 3rd year with the program with the Miramar Jets.  His roles include recruiting, social media design, marketing, and guard development.

Brian currently resides in Scripps Ranch and is in his final year for his Masters in Business Administration at Pt. Loma Nazarene College.