Coaching Staff

Gene Gifford | Associate Head Coach

Coach Gifford begins his second season as an assistant coach at Aquinas College and his first year after being named as the Saints' associate head coach.

Prior to joining the Aquinas Coaching staff, Gifford served as the Head Basketball Coach at Mona Shores HS (2013-16), Olivet College (2001-12), Muskegon Community College (1981-2007), and Ravenna HS (1977-81).

Coach Gifford will be involved with post development, recruiting, scouting and game preparation.

Gifford earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree from Olivet College and his Master's Degree from Central Michigan University.

Coach Gifford and his wife Susan live in Muskegon. They have three daughters Kim (Dave), Amy (Brian), Dana (Justin), as well as five grandchildren (Tori, Ella, Claire, Lydia and Nora) and a great-granddaughter Bella.

Joe Powers | Assistant Coach

Joe Powers is set to return for his first season back as an assistant coach at Aquinas College. Powers rejoins the Aquinas coaching staff after a two-year stint serving as the graduate assistant coach for Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan.

Prior to Oakland, Powers was an assistant coach at Aquinas under the tutelage of Dave Hammer. Powers and head coach Ryan Bertoia were on the coaching staff together at Aquinas from 2012-2015.

Powers will help with player development, recruiting, scouting and game preparation, academic achievement, volunteer involvement, and social development.

Powers earned his Bachelor of Science Degree from Aquinas College and his Master’s Degree from Oakland University.

Pete Sabiiti | Assistant Coach

A former Aquinas College athlete, Peter played two years under Coach Hammer and spent the next two years as a student assistant soaking in knowledge from head Coach Dave Hammer in his dreams to be a head coach one day. Pete graduated from Aquinas with a BA in General Arts and is now in pursuit of his Master's in Ministry and Leadership. Sabiiti has been an assistant coach for two years.

Zach Hurth | Grad Assistant