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Grand Canyon University Athletics
Kimbrough joins GCU staff in 24th coaching year
4/12/2024 10:25:00 AM | Men's Basketball, Paul Coro
Former ASU associate head coach finds hoops, faith fit with longtime friend Drew
When Grand Canyon head coach Bryce Drew began a nationwide search for a new assistant coach, he did not need to go beyond the Valley or his friend circle for a perfect fit.
Jermaine Kimbrough is joining the Lopes after serving as associate head coach at Arizona State, where he assisted for three seasons. Kimbrough, a 23-year college coaching veteran, brings an ideal blend of acumen for recruiting, defense, player development and player relations with a deep Christian faith that aligns with Drew's program and GCU.
"So excited for Coach Kimbrough to be part of our staff," Drew said. "I have known him for years and have a huge amount of respect for him as a person and a coach."
Kimbrough was named one of the nation's 50 most impactful high-major assistants by Silver Waves Media last year.
"I came here to grow," Kimbrough said. "I came here to be part of a winning culture and be part of a program where everybody is connected. You can see that character, connection, culture – all the things that matter. I'm here to learn. I'm here to be a part of it. We all come to the table with gifts, but whatever role Bryce wants me to play, I'm going to serve the program."
Kimbrough became friends with the Drews when he was a nine-year assistant coach at Cleveland State, which was in the Horizon League with the Valparaiso program where Drew began coaching as an assistant to his father, Homer, before becoming head coach.
"I know Bryce and his background in serving as a man of God and a man of faith," Kimbrough said. "That was something that me and my family wanted to realign with."
Kimbrough has an inspiring life story, being homeless for a period of his childhood in Cleveland before being adopted by a community college professor and lifted by his basketball coach, teachers and a janitor at his high school.
Kimbrough, 47, played at Neosho County (Kansas) Community College. NAIA member St. Catharine's and Virginia Tech (1998-2000), where he graduated in Psychology.
He passed on professional opportunities to enter coaching and paid his dues working at Howard, a junior college in Texas, as an assistant coaching and residence housing director before working as a director of basketball operations, director of minority services and nighttime custodian in his first stint at Cleveland State.
Kimbrough progressed to UMass (2004-05), Purdue Fort Wayne (2005-06), Cleveland State (2006-15), Nevada (2015-16), Wyoming (2016-19), Loyola Chicago (2019-21) and Arizona State (2021-24). Under now-Oklahoma coach Porter Moser at Loyola Chicago, he was on the Ramblers staff for the 2021 Sweet 16 run.
"This is no different than the program I was a part of when I was at Loyola Chicago that went to a Sweet 16, Elite Eight and a Final Four," Kimbrough said. "I see the vision, the support and the resources. I see GCU as a program that can reach a Final Four in the future."
Kimbrough has developed a reputation as a tireless recruiter and a detailed, enthusiastic coach while emphasizing a lasting connection with players.
"I truly believe in that," Kimbrough said. "Hopefully, I'm in your life for the rest of your life, and you invite me to your wedding and I get to know your kids and your wife and have a relationship with them. While you're coaching them, it's about mentorship. After you coach them, it's about friendship. It's a thin line you should understand. Right now, I'm a coach, a mentor, a father figure, a brother. There's guidance there. But afterward, we can be friends."
Kimbrough and his wife, Tameka, have four sons (Jace, 10; Javon, 19; Asa, 22; Nyaires, 27) and a daughter (Karis, 12). Javon is a Cincinnati freshman engineering student while Asa just graduated from Montana Tech after an NAIA All-America basketball senior season. Nyaires played at Wyoming when Kimbrough was on the Cowboys staff.
"I'm happy to be here," Kimbrough said of GCU. "I can't wait to get started. I can tell right away that it's a special place. To do special things, you've got to be connected."
Jermaine Kimbrough is joining the Lopes after serving as associate head coach at Arizona State, where he assisted for three seasons. Kimbrough, a 23-year college coaching veteran, brings an ideal blend of acumen for recruiting, defense, player development and player relations with a deep Christian faith that aligns with Drew's program and GCU.
"So excited for Coach Kimbrough to be part of our staff," Drew said. "I have known him for years and have a huge amount of respect for him as a person and a coach."
Kimbrough was named one of the nation's 50 most impactful high-major assistants by Silver Waves Media last year."I came here to grow," Kimbrough said. "I came here to be part of a winning culture and be part of a program where everybody is connected. You can see that character, connection, culture – all the things that matter. I'm here to learn. I'm here to be a part of it. We all come to the table with gifts, but whatever role Bryce wants me to play, I'm going to serve the program."
Kimbrough became friends with the Drews when he was a nine-year assistant coach at Cleveland State, which was in the Horizon League with the Valparaiso program where Drew began coaching as an assistant to his father, Homer, before becoming head coach.
"I know Bryce and his background in serving as a man of God and a man of faith," Kimbrough said. "That was something that me and my family wanted to realign with."
Kimbrough has an inspiring life story, being homeless for a period of his childhood in Cleveland before being adopted by a community college professor and lifted by his basketball coach, teachers and a janitor at his high school.
Kimbrough, 47, played at Neosho County (Kansas) Community College. NAIA member St. Catharine's and Virginia Tech (1998-2000), where he graduated in Psychology.
He passed on professional opportunities to enter coaching and paid his dues working at Howard, a junior college in Texas, as an assistant coaching and residence housing director before working as a director of basketball operations, director of minority services and nighttime custodian in his first stint at Cleveland State.
Kimbrough progressed to UMass (2004-05), Purdue Fort Wayne (2005-06), Cleveland State (2006-15), Nevada (2015-16), Wyoming (2016-19), Loyola Chicago (2019-21) and Arizona State (2021-24). Under now-Oklahoma coach Porter Moser at Loyola Chicago, he was on the Ramblers staff for the 2021 Sweet 16 run.
"This is no different than the program I was a part of when I was at Loyola Chicago that went to a Sweet 16, Elite Eight and a Final Four," Kimbrough said. "I see the vision, the support and the resources. I see GCU as a program that can reach a Final Four in the future."
Kimbrough has developed a reputation as a tireless recruiter and a detailed, enthusiastic coach while emphasizing a lasting connection with players.
"I truly believe in that," Kimbrough said. "Hopefully, I'm in your life for the rest of your life, and you invite me to your wedding and I get to know your kids and your wife and have a relationship with them. While you're coaching them, it's about mentorship. After you coach them, it's about friendship. It's a thin line you should understand. Right now, I'm a coach, a mentor, a father figure, a brother. There's guidance there. But afterward, we can be friends."
Kimbrough and his wife, Tameka, have four sons (Jace, 10; Javon, 19; Asa, 22; Nyaires, 27) and a daughter (Karis, 12). Javon is a Cincinnati freshman engineering student while Asa just graduated from Montana Tech after an NAIA All-America basketball senior season. Nyaires played at Wyoming when Kimbrough was on the Cowboys staff.
"I'm happy to be here," Kimbrough said of GCU. "I can't wait to get started. I can tell right away that it's a special place. To do special things, you've got to be connected."
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