Central Washington University Men's Basketball

Rinta prepares to begin his 8th season as the Head Coach of the Wildcats. In the 2024-25 season, the Wildcats rode high off the previous season’s success and found strong play from a young squad with most of the returners being sophomores, aside from senior Mitch Brizee and junior Xavier Kamalu-Vargas. Central started the season off going 4-3 before kicking GNAC play with a pair of strong wins over Simon Fraser and Western Washington. The Crimson and Black continued their winning ways as conference play began to roll, going 14-4 to capture the GNAC’s regular season title. Getting the first-round bye in the 2025 GNAC Tournament, the Wildcats saw heavy competition in their first game against Montana State Billings as the game went into double overtime. The ‘Cats got a three-point lead with eight seconds remaining and the Yellowjackets couldn’t get off a tying shot as Central held on to win 101-100 and advanced to the title game for the second consecutive year. However, CWU couldn’t recover from the double-overtime victory to repeat as the champions after falling to Seattle Pacific in the championship 61-72. The Wildcats would still get a spot in the NCAA West Regional as the sixth seed and made it to the second round after defeating Chico State 82-79 in overtime, before falling to the eventual national runner-up Cal State Dominguez Hills 65-77. For the 2023-24 season, Central entered the GNAC Tournament as the fourth seed after posting an 11-7 conference record. However, the Crimson and Black saw immediate success in the postseason, defeating the fifth-seeded Seattle Pacific University 90-76 in the first round. The Wildcats then faced off against the top-seeded Montana State Billings in a game that proved to be an instant classic as the ‘Cats scored 49 points in the second half capped off by a go-ahead three-pointer from Samaad Hector with three seconds left to pull off the upset over the Yellowjackets 81-80 and thrust CWU into the championship game. Central kept the momentum going into the final match against the University of Alaska Anchorage, scoring 39 points in the first half to lead by 13 points, and then holding the steady lead as the Wildcats claimed their second GNAC title on home court in front of an ecstatic Nicholson Arena crowd, defeating the Seawolves 78-69. The Crimson and Black followed by winning their first game in the NCAA Division II West Regional, defeating Cal State Dominguez Hills 110-90. The ‘Cats finished the season, dropping the next game against Azusa Pacific 74-82. In 2022-2023, the Wildcats reached the GNAC Tournament Semi-Finals for the second consecutive season. The team finished fourth in the regular season standings and were the only GNAC team to defeat GNAC Regular Season Champion Saint Martins on their home floor. The Wildcats defeated two nationally ranked opponents during the regular season and produced four All-GNAC selections (Cam McNeil, Brock Gilbert, Matt Poquette, Samaad Hector). Additionally, the Wildcats swept rival Western Washington for the first time since 2008. Senior guard Brock Gilbert set the program record for assists per game (7.0) and finished number #2 in NCAA DII in assists per game. Brock also finished Top 5 in NCAA DII in total assists (190). Senior forward Matt Poquette finished his CWU career with 1,239 points & 604 rebounds as a Wildcat. In the classroom, the Wildcats won their fourth straight GNAC Academic Conference Championship for highest team GPA. Additionally, five CWU MBB student-athletes earned Great Northwest Athletic Conference All-Academic honors. Matt Poquette was awarded Great Northwest Athletic Conference All-Academic for the fourth time in a row and is the only GNAC athlete to accomplish this. During the 2021 season, the Wildcats were the highest scoring (82.7ppg) & most efficient (50%) team in the GNAC. They finished tied with the third most win’s in the GNAC standings. The Wildcats reached the GNAC Championship game for the first time since 2011 and were ranked as high as #4 in the West Region during the regular season. Xavier Smith was voted the GNAC Player of the Year as well as NABC All-West Region and D2CCA First Team All-Region honors. Senior guard David Thompson was also awarded GNAC All-Conference. In the classroom, the Wildcats won their third straight GNAC Academic Conference Championship for highest team GPA. In the COVID shortened 2020 season, the Wildcats were one of four GNAC members to play regular season games. They defeated NCAA Tournament participant Northwest Nazarene University 94-84 in Nicholson Pavilion on March 5, 2021. The Wildcats had four players average double figures and averaged 77ppg as a team across their six games. In the classroom, the Wildcats won their second straight GNAC Academic Conference Championship for highest team GPA. In 2019, the Wildcats were one of the best defensive teams in the GNAC. CWU held their opponents under 70 points per game for the first time since 2010. The Wildcats finished their season tied for the final GNAC playoff spot but lost the tiebreaker despite finishing with ten GNAC wins. CWU was among the GNAC’s best in scoring defense, field goal percentage defense, 3pt field goal percentage defense, and defensive rebounding. Senior guard Jeryn Lucas was an All-GNAC selection for the Wildcats. Jeryn finished the season as one the top shooters in the GNAC making 75 threes at 40%. Lucas concluded his CWU career with 132 made three-point field goals, which puts him in the top ten in the CWU record books.  In the classroom, the Wildcats won their first GNAC Academic Conference Championship for the first time in program history. During Rinta’s first season, the Wildcats were one of the top scoring teams in the GNAC, averaging over 80ppg. The Wildcats were top three in team field goal percentage (47%) as well as assists per game (15.5). Junior guard Gamaun Boykin was an All-GNAC selection for the Wildcats. Boykin averaged 12ppg and was the team’s leading rebounder from the point guard position. Former Wildcat Brandon Rinta was named Central Washington men’s basketball head coach on April 19, 2018, becoming the 14th head coach in the program's 117-year history. He is the Wildcats fifth head coach in the past 88 years. Rinta, who played for the Wildcats from 1999-2001, spent the previous seven seasons as the head coach at Lewis-Clark State College in Lewiston, Idaho, where he compiled a 164-62 record (.726) and left with the highest winning percentage by a LC coach in the past 50 years.  Rinta led the Warriors to three Frontier Conference regular season championships and a pair of conference tournament titles.  The Warriors earned five NAIA National Tournament berths and enjoyed the second-most wins in school history in 2016, going 29-5. The Warriors earned a No. 3 national ranking, which was the highest in school history as Rinta was named Frontier Conference Coach of the Year.   In 2013, the Warriors started the season 18-0 as Rinta was named the Don Meyer NAIA National Coach of the Year.   Prior to Lewis-Clark State, Rinta spent five seasons at Great Northwest Athletic Conference member Northwest Nazarene as Associate Head Coach under Tim Hills.  While at NNU, the Nighthawks enjoyed the most wins since joining the NCAA and earned their first-ever ranking in the NCAA Division II West Regional Poll.   From 2001-06, Rinta was an assistant coach at Eastern Washington in Cheney, Wash., where he worked under former Wildcat Mike Burns in Cheney, Wash.  During his stay with the Eagles, Rinta coached future NBA first-round draft pick Rodney Stuckey. The Eagles played in three-straight Big Sky Championship games with a 2003 appearance in the National Invitational Tournament (NIT), followed by a trip to the NCAA Tournament in 2004.   The Chehalis, Wash., native prepped at W.F. West High School and began his college career at Yakima Valley Community College where he played for legendary CWU coach Dean Nicholson, earning All-NWAACC honors averaging 13.3 points and 7.2 rebounds per game.    Rinta competed at Central Washington from 1999-01 where he averaged 8.4 points and 4.0 rebounds to help guide the Wildcats to a 39-17 record with a PacWest Conference Title and a NCAA Division II West Regional berth.   In 2001, he earned a bachelor’s degree in health fitness education at CWU. Rinta earned his Master’s in Athletic Administration from Eastern Washington in 2003. Rinta currently resides in Ellensburg with his wife Deanna. The Rinta’s have a daughter, Kendall, and a son, Shea.   Head Coach Rinta Overall Records Season Wins Losses GNAC Wins GNAC Losses 18-19 11 17 5 15 19-20 17 11 10 10 20-21 2 4 1 1 21-22 17 9 9 7 22-23 14 15 9 9 23-24 22 10 11 7 24-25 22 10 14 4 TOTAL 105 76 59 53

Drew Church joined the Central Washington University men's basketball coaching staff as an assistant coach in 2018. This year will be his 15th season coaching at the college level. The Wildcats have been successful on & off the hardwood during his tenure. On the court, Church has served as the defense coordinator for the Wildcats since the 19-20 season. This past season, the Wildcats held their opponents to 70ppg. The Wildcats were one of the best rebounding teams in the conference grabbing just under 32 defensive rebounds per game and securing 73% of all defensive rebounds. Both were good for second overall in the GNAC. Matt Poquette finished as the second-best defensive rebounder in the GNAC (85) while Samaad Hector finished third in total blocks (20) in GNAC play. In 2021, the Wildcats led the GNAC in defensive rebounding. They averaged 28 defensive rebounds per game and secured 75% of all defensive rebounds. The Wildcats finished fourth in the GNAC in Field Goal Percentage Defense, limiting their opponents to just under 45% in GNAC play. In 2019, CWU was one of the best defensive teams in the conference. They held their opponents under 70 points per game for the first time since 2010. CWU was among the GNAC’s best in scoring defense, field goal percentage defense, 3pt field goal percentage defense, and defensive rebounding. Senior guard Gamaun Boykin finished fourth in the conference with 30 steals and sophomore forward Matt Poquette finished fifth in the conference with 21 blocks in GNAC play. Besides serving as the defensive coordinator, Church’s other priorities are recruiting & academics. The Wildcats have placed eight players on the All-GNAC list during his tenure. In 2021, senior guard Xavier Smith was crowned GNAC MVP and unanimous first team All-GNAC. Last season, the Wildcats tied for a GNAC best: four All-GNAC performers. In the classroom, the Wildcats have won four straight GNAC Academic Conference Championships for the highest team GPA. In 2019, the Wildcats won the GNAC Academic Conference Championship for the first time in program history. Prior to CWU, Church spent seven years at Lewis-Clark State College. During Church’s tenure with the Warriors, LCSC advanced to the NAIA National Tournament five times, including a Sweet 16 berth during the 2015-16 season, while also claiming three Frontier Conference regular-season titles and two tournament championships. He helped the Warriors to the best winning percentage (.852) in program history in 2015-16 and one of four top seeds at the national tournament that season as well. In addition to coaching nine NAIA All-Americans and 20 All-Conference performers, Church helped LCSC to an 18-0 start and a No. 3 national ranking in 2013. Most notably, former Warrior & Frontier Conference Player of the Year, Jacob Wiley signed a two-way contract with the Brooklyn Nets of the National Basketball Association in 2017. During his summers at Lewis-Clark State College, Church was involved with one of the best AAU programs in the Pacific Northwest, Select Basketball.  Church was the head coach of the Select Basketball “White” 17U team located in Boise, Idaho. During his time with Select Basketball, Church worked with 50+ student athletes who went on to play college basketball. During his playing career Church was an NWAC East Region all-conference and all-star game selection while at Columbia Basin College. He averaged 13 points, seven rebounds, and two assists as a sophomore at CBC. Church earned his Bachelor’s degree in Sports Administration from Lewis-Clark State College in 2013 and a Master’s in Organizational Management from Wayne State College in 2015. He and his wife Chelsey reside in Ellensburg with their son, Niles.