Former Iowa basketball assistant reportedly lands new role in SEC
Former Iowa basketball assistant reportedly lands new role in SEC
Former Iowa basketball standout and recent Hawkeye assistant coach Matt Gatens is reportedly set for a new gig in the SEC.
According to Justin Hokanson of Auburn Live win On3, Gatens is joining Bruce Pearl's staff at Auburn as the Tigers' general manager. Gatens would help oversee and influence transfer portal recruiting, high school recruiting, NIL requirements, scouting and roster strategy.
Gatens' ties to Bruce Pearl and the Auburn program date back to his work as a graduate assistant with Auburn during the 2017-18 season when the Tigers won the SEC championship. Gatens' father, Mike Gatens, was a close friend of Pearl during Pearl's time as an assistant at Iowa from 1986-1992.
The 35-year-old spent each of the past three seasons as an assistant coach on Fran McCaffery's staff. But, after McCaffery's dismissal, Gatens was not retained on staff by new Iowa head men's basketball coach Ben McCollum.
Prior to his three seasons as an assistant coach in Iowa City, Gatens spent four seasons on Drake's coaching staff. Gatens served as director of operations his first two years at Drake before being elevated to an assistant coach in his last two seasons.
The former Iowa Mr. Basketball and Gatorade Player of the Year as a senior at Iowa City High School, Gatens was a four-year starter for the Hawkeyes from 2009-12. His final two seasons were McCaffery's first two as Iowa's head coach. During Gatens' senior season, Iowa advanced to the NIT for its first postseason appearance under McCaffery and for its first postseason appearance in six seasons.
Gatens was a two-time All-Big Ten selection, two-time team captain, two-time academic all-conference honoree, recipient of the 2012 Chris Street Award, and voted to the 2009 Big Ten All-Freshman team. Gatens amassed 1,635 points and 239 3-pointers ranking 10th and third, respectively, in Iowa history. In 128 career games, he averaged 12.8 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.1 steals per contest.
Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes and opinions. Follow Josh on X: @JoshOnREF
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
43 minutes ago
- USA Today
SEE IT: Steve Sarkisian and Co. roll out Lamborghinis in Austin amid recruiting camps
SEE IT: Steve Sarkisian and Co. roll out Lamborghinis in Austin amid recruiting camps Texas players have already inked promotional deals with Lamborghini Austin, with running back Bijan Robinson becoming the first to sign such a partnership in 2022. The Texas Longhorns are making headlines again, not just for their play on the field but for their high-octane recruiting tactics. Over the weekend, the university showcased a fleet of Lamborghinis outside its football facilities as it hosted some of the nation's top high school prospects for official visits. The luxury cars, parked in front of the Moncrief Athletics Center next to Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium, were impossible to miss as blue-chip recruits arrived in Austin. The spectacle is part of an ongoing trend for Texas, which first rolled out the exotic cars during last year's recruiting cycle. This year's event featured around 14 to 15 top targets from the Class of 2026, including five-star running back Ezavier Crowell and Lamar Brown, as well as four-star edge rusher Jamarion Carlton, cornerback Davon Benjamin and four-star quarterback Kavian Bryant. The display is more than just a photo opportunity. It's a visual reminder of the opportunities available to student-athletes in the Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) era. Texas players have already inked promotional deals with Lamborghini Austin, with running back Bijan Robinson becoming the first to sign such a partnership in 2022. Since then, other Longhorns, including Jordan Whittington, Jake Majors, Michael Taaffe, and Isaiah Bond, have also driven Lamborghinis as part of NIL deals. While the Lamborghinis have become a social media sensation, the move has drawn mixed reactions from fans and commentators. Some see it as a bold and effective marketing strategy, while others criticize it as a flashy distraction from the fundamentals of college football. Either way, it sticks out to recruits, come to Texas and Texas One Fund connections could net you an NIL deal with Lamborghini of Austin. As Texas prepares for its second season in the SEC, head coach Steve Sarkisian and his staff are making it clear that the Longhorns are willing to leverage every advantage to attract elite talent. Whether the Lamborghinis ultimately translate to wins on the field remains to be seen, but for now, Texas is sending a message to recruits and rivals alike: the Longhorns are back, and they're not afraid to make a statement.
USA Today
43 minutes ago
- USA Today
MSU beats out Boise State, OK State for 3-star DL Christopher Knauls Jr. commitment
MSU beats out Boise State, OK State for 3-star DL Christopher Knauls Jr. commitment It's been a Sunday funday for the Spartans on the recruiting trail. Michigan State football has picked up a second commitment on Sunday afternoon, with three-star defensive lineman Christopher Knauls Jr. announcing he'll become a Spartan. The commitment to Michigan State from Knauls comes after his official visit to the school this past weekend. Knauls is a three-star prospect from Frisco, Texas, and holds a recruiting rating of 86.26 in 247Sports' composite system. He ranks as the No. 105 defensive lineman in 247Sports' composite rankings. Michigan State beat out a number of big-time schools for Knauls' commitment. According to 247Sports, Knauls held offers from more than 20 schools, with some of the more notable programs being Boise State, Colorado, California, Oklahoma State, Houston, Kansas, Kansas State, Indiana, Syracuse, Texas Tech, Utah, UNLV and Tulane. Knauls is the ninth commitment in the Spartans' 2026 class. He is the fourth prospect to commit to Michigan State this week, and fifth player since this month started. Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan State news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Robert Bondy on X @RobertBondy5.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Spartans land commitment from 3-star DB Eliyjah Caldwell-Hardy of Jacksonville, Fla.
Michigan State picked up its second defensive back commitment of the weekend on Sunday afternoon. Eliyjah Caldwell-Hardy of Jacksonville, Fla. announced his commitment to Michigan State on Sunday. Caldwell-Hardy's commitment to the Spartans came following his official visit to Michigan State this weekend. Advertisement Caldwell-Hardy is a three-star defensive back prospect in the 2026 class, according to 247Sports. He holds a recruiting rating of 86 on 247Sports, and is ranked as the No. 115 safety prospect in the class. Caldwell-Hardy held offers from 10 schools, according to 247Sports. UCLA, Florida Atlantic, Navy, Tulane and Middle Tennessee State were the most notable of his offers. He was expected to take an official visit to Florida Atlantic next week. Caldwell-Hardy is the eighth commitment for the Spartans in the 2026 class. He is the third future Spartan to join the class this week, with Brayden Thomas and KJ Deriso also committing to Michigan State earlier this week. Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan State news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Robert Bondy on X @RobertBondy5. This article originally appeared on Spartans Wire: MSU lands commitment from 3-star Eliyjah Caldwell-Hardy of Jacksonville, Fla.
