FAIRBANKS - The Alaska Nanooks women's basketball team has elevated Mondo Naiki to assistant coach. Naiki has been with the Nanooks coaching staff the previous two seasons as a student manager and interim assistant coach.
"It's hard to express how excited I am to officially be adding Coach Mondo to the staff." Said head coach Amy Donovan, "For the past two seasons his assistance has been invaluable. He's the hardest worker in our program, and a quick learner on top of it. Keeping Mondo on staff adds consistency for the players, and I'm fired up to keep working with him!"
Naiki, who hails from Japan, just earned his B.S.R.B., Sport and Recreation Business: Sport Management, and has been with the Nanooks women's basketball program since September 2022. As a student assistant and manager, he assisted in game prep, day-to-day operations, game scouts, and film study. His duties grew in September 2023 when he was named the interim assistant coach for the 2023-24 season. In that time he assisted the head coach in improving team performance and all daily operations while continuing his original duties. Additionally, he coordinated all operations for road trips, including travel itineraries. Alongside his continued scouting report and video scouting duties, Naiki recruited prospective student-athletes for the women's basketball team.
"I'm grateful and humbled to continue working as an assistant coach at the University of Alaska Fairbanks." said Naiki following his hiring, "I would like to thank everyone at UAF and Coach AD. I would also like to thank my family, Coach Adachi, and the members for their support from my country. I hope I can help this team achieve their goals and believe we will have a successful season!" Prior to Alaska, Naiki earned his Associate in Arts Degree from Spokane Falls Community College in June 2022. While there he worked as a PTA Performance trainer, assisting with basketball training in the high school and college categories.
He has also served as a personal trainer and U12 head coach. His first day as assistant coach was Monday, May 20.
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