Miami Suns Appoint New Roles in Staff for 2017 Season

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Miami Suns Basketball organization is happy to announce changes to their staff for the 2017 season.

Effective immediately, Ericka Haney has been promoted as the program’s Director of Player Development. Haney has been instrumental to the Suns Girls Basketball organization’s success since her arrival in July of 2011. Ericka Haney has been with the Suns organization for six years, spending the last four as the Head Coach for Team Fowles. Ericka’s experience at all levels of basketball; as a team captain for the 2001 NCAA National Champion Notre Dame, assistant coach at the collegiate level and head coach at the high school and club circuit level, give her tremendous insight and knowledge to help players achieve their goal of attaining a college scholarship and excelling at the next level. Under Haney’s guidance and leadership, Team Fowles has made three straight Nike Nationals appearances and an AAU National Championship in 2012. In Ericka’s new role as the program’s Director of Player Development, she will be working with players throughout the Miami Suns organization on and off the court.

“Coach Ericka has been instrumental in the development of several former Miami Suns that are now in college and many more currently in the program. We are very fortunate to have someone with the resume and passion that Coach Ericka brings to every practice or game” – Miguel Diaz, Miami Suns Program Director.

Haney’s promotion to the programs co-director will open up the head coaching position on Team Fowles. Taking over the role of head coach for Team Fowles will be Sam ‘Boozer’ Baumgarten. Coach Baumgarten is one of the best known high school coaches in South Florida. As a head coach, Baumgarten has lead the Miami High School Stingarees to three state championships. Baumgarten also earned National Coach of the Year honors in 2014. Coach Baumgarten has been with the Miami Suns organization for the last eleven seasons, coaching teams from 9th grade thru 11th grade. Over the last four seasons, Baumgarten has served as the assistant head coach on Team Fowles.

“I am honored to be the Head Coach of Team Fowles, a team named after a future hall of famer and former Miami Sun. I have been with Miami Suns program from its inception and had an opportunity to work with several high level players while coaching several different age groups. I am excited for the opportunity to lead a talented young team in the very competitive Nike Girls EYBL” – Coach Boozer, Team Fowles Head Coach.

Team Fowles will also be have a new associate head coach in the form of Gabriel Lazo. Coach Lazo has exceled in the high school coaching ranks with his Ferguson Falcons program. Lazo has taken the remarkable feat of taking the Ferguson Falcons from a no-win team to a state title contender over the last five seasons. Coach Lazo has been with the Miami Suns for five seasons, previously serving as the head coach and assistant coach for Team Larkins over the last three seasons.

Other additions to the Miami Suns staff include the addition of Garrick Black and Richard Brown. Garrick Black will look to continue the Suns tradition of in the development of college-ready players as a player development coach. Black will also be implementing new training regimens and bringing his knowledge of skill development to the Suns staff. Richard Brown will be serving as an assistant coach on Team Fowles in 2017. Brown has previous coaching experience at all levels and will look to instill his knowledge in all players in the Miami Suns organization.