Ericka Haney To Play Bigger Role In Suns Girls Basketball Organization

Ericka Haney, a former Notre Dame Fighting Irish, knows the game of basketball in and out. Her experience on different levels of the game has led her to great success on and off the court. The Miami Suns Organization is proud to have her knowledge and skill on the coaching staff.

Haney’s experience is a tremendous asset to the Suns program. While at Notre Dame, Haney helped lead the Fighting Irish to it’s first National Title in 2001. A year later in 2002, Haney was drafted by the Detroit Shock in the WNBA draft. Ericka has also played professionally overseas in Sweden and in the National Women’s Basketball League.

Haney has brought a vast amount of coaching experience as well. Ericka took the job as a assistant coach at Chicago State University, in 2003. After 3 years at CSU, Haney was named Director of Basketball Operations at Louisiana Tech University. A year later, Haney took up the recruiting coordinator job at Florida Gulf Coast University.

Ericka also brings coaching experience at the high school level as well. Having coached at Pine Crest High School and Flanagan High School, in 2009 and 2010, she took the role of Assistant Head Coach at Coral Springs Charter, under Head Coach Fitzroy Anthony (Former Miami Suns Head Coach / Current FAU Assistant Coach), in 2011. She helped lead Coral Springs Charter to it’s first ever District and Regional Championship and State Finals appearance.

Haney has been instrumental to the Suns Girls Basketball Program’s success since her arrival in July of 2011. Her commitment to the Suns on the coaching staff help lead Team Fowles to an AAU National Championship this summer. Haney spent extensive time working with Team USA and top ranked Center Kai James, to help her improve her game this summer.

With the departure of Team Fowles Head Coach Fitzroy Anthony, Haney looks to be more involved in the Suns Organization’s day-to-day operations. Haney will be involved in organizing events and camps, as well as, continuing her great job in the development of all the Suns players. Ericka is excited to play a bigger role with Team Fowles and recruitment of young players throughout South Florida, in the next upcoming year.

“Coach Fitz played a big role for the Suns and will be missed, but our staff as a whole is very experienced and ready for the challenge of maintaining our program at an elite and national champion caliber program and have major schools recruiting our kids”, said Obel Cruz, Suns Director of Basketball Operations.

Along with Haney, another prominent figure in the Suns Coaching Staff includes Marquis Maye, the Head Coach of the very talented Suns Red Elite team. On the Red Elite team, Maye coached some future Team Fowles players and his experience will play a bigger role with Team Fowles in 2013.

Player Development is key for success within the Suns Organization. Coach Sam Baumgardner and Donneal Ford will assume bigger roles in player development and coaching teams in 2013. Coach Trumab Montgomery will also be playing a bigger role in the Suns Organization Coaching ranks, next summer.

Team Larkins, the Suns Middle School team, coached by Suns Co-Founder, Paul Torres have some exciting and young players that will be big names in the high school ranks in a few years. “We feel that we have a group of kids on Team Larkins that can accomplish the same things Team Fowles accomplished this summer, a few years from now.. A National championship and six players signing with major Division-I Schools.” Said Paul Torres, Suns Co-Founder and Middle School Coach.

The Miami Suns Girls Basketball future is very bright.

With the Miami Suns, Basketball Never Stops. The combination of talent and experience, on the floor and within the coaching staff, the Suns Organization, from top to bottom has one of the most complete programs in the nation. With this, and the success coming off a marvelous 2012 season, the sky is the limit in 2013 for the lady Suns.