John Aiken joined the Nicholls men's basketball coaching staff in June 2016.
“John was instrumental to the success at UT Martin over the past two seasons,” Riley said. “He has strong recruiting ties within our region and across the country. John does a great job of teaching on the court and developing players. Being a former Head Coach, he brings a wealth of experience to our staff and we are thrilled to have him.”
Aiken comes to Nicholls after spending two seasons with the UT Martin men’s basketball coaching staff. Aiken helped the Skyhawks to 21 victories during the 2015-16 campaign, just one shy of the school record. UT Martin also tallied the program’s first three postseason victories since becoming a Division-I member in 1992. Aiken was a part of the Skyhawks’ 13-win increase from the previous season, which ranked as the fourth-best turnaround in Division-I basketball in 2014-15. He was responsible for recruiting All-Ohio Valley Conference performers Deville Smith (2014-15) and Twymond Howard (2015-16), as well as the HOOPSHD.com OVC Sixth Man of the Year Jacolby Mobley in 2015-16.
Before joining UT Martin, Aiken totaled seven seasons of collegiate coaching experience, including two years as head coach of Belhaven University, an NAIA school in Jackson, Miss. Aiken posted 30 overall wins and a 22-16 Southern States Athletic Conference record as head coach at Belhaven. In 2013-14, he helped guide the Blazers to an 18-15 record (14-6 SSAC) and a spot in the NAIA Division I National Tournament. He spent the previous four seasons as the top assistant at Belhaven, which included two more trips to the NAIA national tournament (2010 and 2012). The Blazers went 24-10 during the 2009-10 season, earning a spot in the national tournament for the first time since 1972.
All in all, Aiken coached four honorable mention All-Americans, six all-division honorees and nine all-conference selections during his tenure at Belhaven.
Prior to his stint with the Blazers, Aiken was an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at the University of New England, an NCAA Division-III school located in Biddeford, Maine. He helped the Nor’easters reach the 2008 ECAC New England Regional Championship game after New England posted a 17-12 overall record.
Aiken also served as an assistant coach at Cheverus High School in Portland, Maine and Greater Portland Christian School in South Portland, Maine before entering the collegiate coaching ranks.
Aiken has gained valuable experience working prestigious summer camps at the University of Louisville, Xavier University, University of Connecticut, Wake Forest University, Florida State University and the University of Miami. He also worked as the director of basketball operations for Camp Caribou in Winslow, Maine.
A native of Portland, Maine, Aiken earned his bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Southern Maine in 2008. He also completed his Master’s degree in sports administration at Belhaven in 2013. He and his wife Michelle spent a summer working with Athletes in Action in South Africa and Mozambique where they volunteered at orphanages, coached against several professional and club teams and visited with various schools and governmental organizations. He and Michelle have two children - a daughter Gracie and son Macrae.
“I am beyond excited to be joining the Nicholls community and have fallen in love with the town of Thibodaux in a short time,” Aiken said. “I have admired Coach Riley's rise from afar and can't wait to get to work with him here at Nicholls. He is one of the bright young coaches in the country and my family has really enjoyed getting to know his. I feel very fortunate to be a part of his staff. I'm thankful that he has given me this opportunity and am excited to grow this program as a member of this tremendous community. Geaux Colonels!”
THE AIKEN FILE
HOMETOWN: Portland, Maine
WIFE: Michelle
CHILDREN: Gracie and Macrae
EDUCATION: Southern Maine, 2008 (Bachelor's); Belhaven, 2013 (Master's)
COLLEGIATE COACHING EXPERIENCE
2014-16: UT Martin (Assistant Coach)
2012-14: Belhaven University (Head Coach)
2008-12: Belhaven University (Assistant Coach)
2007-08: University of New England (Assistant Coach)
