BILLINGS, Mont. — Montana State Billings graduate assistant men’s basketball coach Marty Birky has accepted a position as the head assistant coach for the men’s basketball program at Imperial Valley College, a member of the California Community College Athletic Association in the Pacific Coast Athletic Conference, MSUB head basketball coach Jamie Stevens announced according to the university’s Web site.
“We are excited about the opportunity for Coach Birky to continue his coaching career at Imperial Valley College,” Stevens said. “This will be a great opportunity for him and his career. Coach Birky did a great job for us and he will be missed. We wish him the best in his new opportunity and thank him for his service to our program and MSUB.”
Birky will join a program led by head coach Tyson Aye, who will be entering his 13th season of collegiate coaching, seventh at Imperial Valley College, in the 2012-13 season.
Aye led the team to a 20-9 record last season that included a berth in the California Community College State post-season playoffs.
IVC claimed back-to-back Pacific Coach Athletic Conference championships in 2007 and 2008.
“I am very excited to join Coach Aye’s staff and join a successful team that went 20-9 last season and made a post-season run,” Birky stated. “I am extremely grateful for my experiences as an MSUB Yellowjacket, both as a player and a coach. Coach Stevens and coach Wetzel have helped me grow as a coach and a person, and I will miss working with them and the other amazing people at MSUB.”
Birky joined the men’s basketball program at MSUB as a player prior to the 2008-09 season, but after seeing limited action, turned his passion into a job as he transformed his roll into that of coach.
During his two seasons as the Yellowjackets’ graduate assistant coach, Birky helped out in all facets of the team including leading practice and helping manage game-day operations for the team.
A native of Chinook, Mont., he graduated from Chinook High School in 2007 and went on to play at Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell, SD. After one season, he transferred to MSUB.
Birky graduated from MSUB in 2011 with a bachelor’s degree in Public Relations and recently completed his master’s in exercise and sports leadership.
He spent the 2011 summer as a player development specialist for Impact Basketball in Las Vegas, where he participated in the training of NBA, international and collegiate players.
Players he worked with included: Chauncey Billups (Knicks), John Wall (Wizards), J.J. Hickson (Kings), Corey Maggetti (Bobcats), Austin Daye (Pistons) and Kyle Lowry (Rockets).
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