May 18, 2006
FAIRFIELD, Conn. - Fairfield University Head Men's Basketball Coach Ed Cooley completed his coaching staff by announcing the addition of assistant coaches David "Aki" Collins, Tim Fuller, and Bob Simon. Cooley also named Richard Carter as the program's director of basketball operations.
"I am very pleased to have a quality staff that includes experience both and creativity," Cooley said. "Aki, Tim, and Bob are outstanding recruiters who will bring quality student athletes that will help us achieve our goal of achieving academic and athletic excellence at Fairfield University."
Simon brings a wealth of coaching experience to the Stags staff, including a six-year stint with the University of Toledo. He joined the Rockets staff in 2000 as an assistant coach, before being promoted to associate head coach in 2003. He spent one year as the head women's basketball coach at Wayne State University, taking the position after he was the associate head men's basketball coach at Wayne State from 1994-99. He started his career at the high school level, coaching at Anderson High School (1987-91) and Thurston High School (1981-87) in Michigan.
Fuller has been in the coaching ranks since his graduation from Wake Forest University in 2000. He played along side current San Antonio Spurs All-Star Tim Duncan, and helped the Deacons secure a number two ranking in the national poll. The Winston-Salem native began his career as a volunteer assistant at North Carolina A&T. From there, he accepted a position as an assistant coach at Elon University under former Deacons assistant coach Ernie Nestor in 2003. He was elevated to associate head coach at Elon for the 2004-05 season. He left Elon for the University of Miami, where he stayed briefly before moving back to his alma mater as the director of basketball operations for the 2005-06 campaign.
Collins comes to Fairfield after spending three seasons as an assistant coach at Marshall University. During his tenure, the Brooklyn native assisted the staff in recruiting, scouting, and player development. Before joining the Herd's basketball staff, Collins enjoyed a three-year tenure at Howard University as an assistant coach. While at Howard, the team posted 41 wins in three seasons, after the program had won just three games in the previous two seasons before his arrival. He started his coaching career at the University of Colorado as a volunteer assistant before moving into an assistant coach position. He graduated from Clark Atlanta University in 1997.
Carter joins the Fairfield staff after working with the Michigan State coaching staff under head coach Tom Izzo. He assisted the program as team manager, helping with the day-to-day activities including practice, game-day, and travel itineraries.
