Basketball is in Yanni Hufnagel's blood. He has eaten, breathed and slept basketball since he was a kid in Scarsdale, New York. Although not for lack of effort, Hufnagel tried to be player, but always fell just a few skills short of attaining that dream.
He never let that disappointment stop him from pursuing a career in the sport. With a tenacious drive and the gift as a teacher of the game of basketball, the little Jewish boy from New York has carved himself a place in the world of Division I NCAA basketball.
Success Follows Hufnagel
University of Oklahoma was Hufnagel’s first stop, where he worked on his post bachelor’s studies. As a graduate assistant coach, Hufnagel helped the Sooners win 23 games and earn a tournament appearance. On that team was the first pro prospect Hufnagel would help to mold, Blake Griffin.
Yanni would shift east after his student …show more content…
The teams were highly successful, some experiencing remarkable seasons, the most memorable in school history. There was also a trend where recruits would be convinced to commit due to Hufnagel’s excellent recruiting skills and then develop into professional quality talent.
New Opportunity on the Horizon?
Most recently, Hufnagel has worked as an assistant coach/recruiter for the University of Nevada. The results were very much the same. The Wolf Pack won Mountain West with a 28-win season, earning a bid to the NCAA tournament last season.
Three highly regarded recruits already signed with UNR before Hufnagel’s announcement he was stepping down as assistant coach. Nevada head coach Eric Musselman raved about Hufnagel, calling him one of the most intense recruiters and high-energy assistants he has ever worked.
With such a documented history of success throughout his career, no one will be surprised if the 34-year old Hufnagel is not on some athletic director’s radar as a head-coaching
He never let that disappointment stop him from pursuing a career in the sport. With a tenacious drive and the gift as a teacher of the game of basketball, the little Jewish boy from New York has carved himself a place in the world of Division I NCAA basketball.
Success Follows Hufnagel
University of Oklahoma was Hufnagel’s first stop, where he worked on his post bachelor’s studies. As a graduate assistant coach, Hufnagel helped the Sooners win 23 games and earn a tournament appearance. On that team was the first pro prospect Hufnagel would help to mold, Blake Griffin.
Yanni would shift east after his student …show more content…
The teams were highly successful, some experiencing remarkable seasons, the most memorable in school history. There was also a trend where recruits would be convinced to commit due to Hufnagel’s excellent recruiting skills and then develop into professional quality talent.
New Opportunity on the Horizon?
Most recently, Hufnagel has worked as an assistant coach/recruiter for the University of Nevada. The results were very much the same. The Wolf Pack won Mountain West with a 28-win season, earning a bid to the NCAA tournament last season.
Three highly regarded recruits already signed with UNR before Hufnagel’s announcement he was stepping down as assistant coach. Nevada head coach Eric Musselman raved about Hufnagel, calling him one of the most intense recruiters and high-energy assistants he has ever worked.
With such a documented history of success throughout his career, no one will be surprised if the 34-year old Hufnagel is not on some athletic director’s radar as a head-coaching