Armon Gates

Class:
Redshirt

Former Golden Flash Armon Gates is now in his second season as an assistant coach after making his return to the program in the spring of 2008. Gates comes back to KSU after spending the previous year on the coaching staff at Western Kentucky.

“This is exciting for me to have a former player in the program, someone who understands what the tradition is all about,” said Ford. “Armon was a very good player and is a guy who did everything right when he was here, on and off the floor. We want kids just like Armon. Our players relate to him very well.”

In his first season on staff, Gates’ oversaw the backcourt development, including all-conference guards Al Fisher and Chris Singletary as well as MAC Report Online Defensive Player of the Year Jordan Mincy. The trio along with sixth-man Tyree Evans accounted for 64 percent of the Kent State offense which led the league in scoring for the first time in school history. With the former letterwinner on the sidelines, the Golden Flashes claimed their 10th postseason appearance in the past 11 years by earning a bid to the inaugural CollegeInsider.com Tournament.

A MAC All-Academic selection while at Kent State, Gates’ first season in the coaching profession was highly successful. After capturing the Sun Belt Tournament championship, the Hilltoppers earned a No. 12 seed in the NCAA Tournament, advancing to the ‘Sweet 16’ before falling to Final Four participant UCLA. WKU ended the year with a 29-7 mark to equal the Sun Belt record for wins in a season.

“This is a great situation for me,” said Gates. “I will always appreciate coach Ford for giving me this opportunity, and I want to thank Kent State’s administration. They have welcomed me back with open arms.”

As a student-athlete Gates scored 804 career points as the Golden Flashes totaled an 88-42 record and earned three national postseason appearances. He finished his career tied for second all-time with 200 three-point field goals made, including a team best 72 as a senior. During his junior year in 2005-06, Kent State went 25-9 and 15-3 to win the MAC regular season title outright. The Golden Flashes then qualified for the NCAA Tournament behind Gates who averaged 12.0 points per game and shot 11 of 15 from three (73.3%) during the MAC Tournament championship run.

“Kent State is where my heart and loyalty is,” said Gates, “I was happy to go away for one year to learn in another program, but now I’m really excited to be back. I’m going to be a players’ coach here. I’ll be here for them.”

The Chicago, Ill. local was part of four straight 20-win teams at Kent State which reached the National Invitation Tournament in 2004 and 2005 prior to the NCAA Tournament in 2006.

After receiving his bachelor’s degree in leisure studies in May of 2006, Gates earned a master’s degree in sports administration while completing his final year of eligibility in 2006-07.A product of Hillcrest High School in Chicago, he spent one season at Brewster Academy (N.H.) prior to joining the Golden Flashes program in the fall of 2002.

Gates and his wife Ashley had their first daughter, Giada this past summer.

The Armon Gates File
Birthdate: Jan. 8, 1983
Hometown: Chicago, Ill.
Family: Wife Ashley, daughter, Giada
Alma Mater: Kent State University, bachelor’s degree in leisure studies; master’s degree in sports administration

Playing Experience
•   Kent State University, four-year letterwinner (2003-07)
•   Ranks second all-time with 200 career three-pointers made
•    Scored 804 career points
•   Member of 2006 MAC Championship Team
•   MAC All-Academic Team

Gates’ Coaching Log
Seasons       School   Position(s)
2007-08       Western Kentucky   Assistant Coach
2008-pres. Kent State   Assistant Coach