Colorado University Athletics
Photo by: CUBuffs.com
Hower, Sheetz Elevated to Assistant Coaches
October 05, 2023 | Women's Basketball
Promotions made possible due to NCAA rule changes
BOULDER – Colorado women's basketball staff members Matt Hower and Shelley Sheetz have been promoted to assistant coaches, Buffaloes' head coach JR Payne announced on Thursday.
In January, the NCAA Division I Council voted forward a proposal to increase the number of allowable coaches in men's and women's basketball from three to five which was subsequently approved by the Division I Board of Directors. The updated rule allows for two more coaches to engage in coaching activities and provide skill instruction on the court. The additions are still not allowed to recruit off campus as that number remains at four with the head coach and three assistants.
The rule officially went into effect on July 1 for the 2023-24 academic year.
"We are really excited to have Matt and Shelley back on the court coaching," Payne stated. "They both have so much to offer from a basketball knowledge standpoint. Both Matt and Shelley have many years of coaching experience and it will be great for our team to be able to utilize them as a resource both on the court and in the film room."
Coach Hower and Coach Sheetz will maintain the bulk of their current duties with the program, but the change allows them to be active with the players in a coaching role.
Hower joined the Buffs in December of 2021, serving as the team's Director of Basketball Operations. He came to CU from Fort Collins High School, where he was head coach of the Labmkins' girls varsity team. Hower also helped develop some of the top basketball players in northern Colorado, serving as the head coach of the State 38 U17 Elite in 2020.
Hower's coaching resume also includes time spent with USA Basketball, working with the U19 men's and women's team training camps. He also served as a varsity assistant for the Fort Collins boy's basketball team and was the JV head coach from 2012-16.
Sheetz returned to Boulder in the 2022-23 season, filling the role of Director of Player Development. The CU Hall of Famer remains second in school history in steals (287), third in assists (514), fourth in free throws made (425), eighth in free throw attempts (501) and second in 3FGM (252).
Sheetz's last coaching role was as an assistant at the University of Denver (2020-21). She has also been an assistant at Loyola-Maryland (2017-20), Boston College (2012-15), Denver (2008-12), Pepperdine (2005-08), San Diego (2001-05) and Washington State (1999-00).
The Buffaloes are well into preparation for the 2023-24 season.
Colorado will have an exhibition at home against Adams State on Oct. 28, before heading off to Las Vegas to take on defending national champion LSU (Nov. 6). CU's home opener will be against Le Moyne on Nov. 8.
In January, the NCAA Division I Council voted forward a proposal to increase the number of allowable coaches in men's and women's basketball from three to five which was subsequently approved by the Division I Board of Directors. The updated rule allows for two more coaches to engage in coaching activities and provide skill instruction on the court. The additions are still not allowed to recruit off campus as that number remains at four with the head coach and three assistants.
The rule officially went into effect on July 1 for the 2023-24 academic year.
"We are really excited to have Matt and Shelley back on the court coaching," Payne stated. "They both have so much to offer from a basketball knowledge standpoint. Both Matt and Shelley have many years of coaching experience and it will be great for our team to be able to utilize them as a resource both on the court and in the film room."
Coach Hower and Coach Sheetz will maintain the bulk of their current duties with the program, but the change allows them to be active with the players in a coaching role.
Hower joined the Buffs in December of 2021, serving as the team's Director of Basketball Operations. He came to CU from Fort Collins High School, where he was head coach of the Labmkins' girls varsity team. Hower also helped develop some of the top basketball players in northern Colorado, serving as the head coach of the State 38 U17 Elite in 2020.
Hower's coaching resume also includes time spent with USA Basketball, working with the U19 men's and women's team training camps. He also served as a varsity assistant for the Fort Collins boy's basketball team and was the JV head coach from 2012-16.
Sheetz returned to Boulder in the 2022-23 season, filling the role of Director of Player Development. The CU Hall of Famer remains second in school history in steals (287), third in assists (514), fourth in free throws made (425), eighth in free throw attempts (501) and second in 3FGM (252).
Sheetz's last coaching role was as an assistant at the University of Denver (2020-21). She has also been an assistant at Loyola-Maryland (2017-20), Boston College (2012-15), Denver (2008-12), Pepperdine (2005-08), San Diego (2001-05) and Washington State (1999-00).
The Buffaloes are well into preparation for the 2023-24 season.
Colorado will have an exhibition at home against Adams State on Oct. 28, before heading off to Las Vegas to take on defending national champion LSU (Nov. 6). CU's home opener will be against Le Moyne on Nov. 8.
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