May 31, 2012 (Jackson) - Belhaven University is pleased to announce that John Aiken has been hired as the new Head Coach of the Blazers Men's Basketball program. Aiken has spent the last four seasons as Belhaven's assistant coach under Tom Kelsey who recently accepted a position at LSU as Director of Basketball Operations.
Aiken has played an integral role in Belhaven's success over the last four seasons in the areas of recruitment and on the floor coaching. During that span, the Blazers have made two trips to the Buffalo Funds NAIA Division I National Tournament in 2010 and 2012. The appearance in 2010 was the first for the program since the 1972 season. Belhaven's combined overall record during those four years is 74-55, including a 24-10 mark during the 2009-10 campaign.
“It's an exciting day for me to introduce John Aiken as our Head Men's Basketball Coach,” said Belhaven Director of Athletics Scott Little. “Following a thorough national search process and interviews with a highly qualified group of finalists, it became clear Coach Aiken was the best fit to lead our men's basketball program forward. John is well-respected by coaches throughout the conference and student-athletes on the team, as well by colleagues on the Belhaven campus. I'm confident our players and incoming recruits will respond well to his leadership as head coach.”
Prior to arriving at Belhaven, Aiken worked at the University of New England where he helped guide the program to a 17-12 record and an appearance in the 2008 ECAC New England Regional Championship game. Aiken served as an assistant coach and was the recruiting coordinator. Before working at the University of New England, Aiken worked as an assistant coach at Cheverus High School for Coach Bob Brown and also served as the assistant coach at Greater Portland Christian School for four years prior.
“I'm excited to build on the success we have had over the last several years,” says Aiken. “We have momentum building and I'm looking forward to capitalizing on that. I would like to thank Coach Kelsey, Scott Little, Dr. Roger Parrott, and the many others that supported me during the process and believed in me enough to give me this opportunity.”
Aiken has been involved in several prestigious Summer Camps including The University of Louisville, Xavier University, University of Connecticut, Wake Forest University, Florida State University, and The University of Miami. Additionally, he served as the Director of Basketball for Camp Caribou located in Winslow, Maine.
Belhaven University is a member of the NAIA, the Southern States Athletic Conference, and sponsors 13 intercollegiate sports.
Belhaven stands among the select Christian colleges and universities that offer a unique general core curriculum encouraging the development of a personal worldview. The university believes a Christian worldview is a key to preparing men and women academically and spiritually to serve Christ Jesus in their careers, in human relationships, and in the world of ideas.
Founded in 1883, Belhaven University now serves over 3,000 students from campuses in Jackson, Memphis, Orlando, Houston, Chattanooga, Atlanta and online, offering traditional undergraduate degrees, graduate and adult degree programs, and online degree programs.