SAN DIEGO-The defending PacWest Champion Point Loma Nazarene University Men’s Basketball team is adding an experienced coach with Pacific Northwest roots, familiar to Southern California, in the addition of Assistant Coach Justin Downer to the coaching staff, Head Coach Matt Logie announced Thursday.
“Justin is someone I have seen impact the lives of young people consistently over the last ten years we've built a relationship,” Logie said. “I have followed his success at the collegiate level, first at Vanguard University and most recently at Division I Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Justin is an engaging and dynamic leader who excels at player development and on the recruiting trail and is a perfect fit for the mission of PLNU. I can't wait to see the various ways he continues to help our program grow and look forward to helping him continue to grow as a member of our staff. We cannot wait to welcome Justin, Nicole, and their son Jackson to the Point.”
Downer spent the past three seasons as the recruiting coordinator at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, coordinating the highest-rated recruiting class in program history in addition to his responsibilities with offensive strategy, game planning, and serving as the director of player development.
“Joining Coach Logie and the Point Loma program means so much more to me than basketball,” Downer said. “I’ve had a relationship with Coach Logie for almost 10 years, and my family and I are thrilled to join the PLNU community. The job they have done building a championship-level program is admirable, and I’m excited to continue to build on the success they’ve had. I’m thrilled to be able to coach, recruit and mentor the high character student-athletes that Point Loma attracts, and can’t wait to see what God has in store for this program and our young men. I’m so thankful for the opportunity to join the coaching staff, and I can’t wait to get to work on the floor, on campus, and in the community.”
While new to the PLNU community, Downer is no stranger to basketball in Southern California, propelling Vanguard University to its best start in school history. Before that, he served as the Associate Director of the West Coast Elite, mentoring over 60 Division I athletes and 2 McDonald’s All-Americans, and eventual NBA players Nico Mannion and Josh Green. That number also includes San Diego State’s starting point guard Lamont Butler, who he coached at Riverside Poly alongside fellow assistant coach Julius Smith.
The position at Point Loma became vacant after the departure of Patrick Frost, who served as Logie’s assistant for all three seasons the coach has been in San Diego. In that time, PLNU Basketball captured two PacWest titles and qualified for the NCAA Tournament in each season while also developing a string of All-PacWest performers including the 2-time PacWest Player of the year Kaden Anderson.
“Patrick served our basketball family for six years at two different institutions,” Logie said of his longtime assistant. “He made a monumental impact in the lives of our student-athletes and fellow coaching staff members and was instrumental in the success I've enjoyed as a head coach. He leaves Point Loma in a tremendous position with a foundation for continued excellence in all areas, and it is for that reason that the opportunity to be a part of our future success was so appealing to many coaching candidates. Patrick and I have held a close relationship for almost 25 years and there will be no one rooting for his success in his next chapter more than I will.”
While Downer is the only addition to the PLNU coaching staff, Assistant Coach Julius Smith's position has also been enhanced to reflect the great work and promotion he has earned over the last three years.
“I would also like to acknowledge the tremendous work that Julius Smith has done in our program over the last three years,” Logie added. “He made an immediate impact on our program when hired three years ago and has grown tremendously during that time as well. I'm thrilled that this staff transition coincided with an opportunity to enhance his position and responsibilities as he is most deserving and will continue to thrive alongside one of his closest friends, Justin Downer.”
Point Loma is returning three starters from the reigning PacWest Championship roster, including 2-time conference player of the year and National Player of the Year candidate, Kaden Anderson. Freshmen Coby Barnes and Luke Haupt played significant roles in their push to the NCAA Regional.
