Cortez Garland, the 2024 NCAA Division III Tournament Most Valuable Player, has accepted an assistant coaching position on the men’s basketball staff at Ferris State University. The move follows a distinguished playing career that included leading the Trine Thunder to the 2024 national championship and earning tournament MVP honors.
Garland’s résumé reads like a primer in championship pedigree. He starred at Albion College before guiding Trine to the 2024 title, a run that cemented his reputation as a clutch performer and a leader on the court.
Brooks Miller, the Bulldogs’ head coach, emphasized that Garland’s blend of on‑court experience and a proven record in player development makes him a natural fit for a program that has built a reputation for sustained excellence.
Miller noted that the new coach’s background in mentorship and his work directing the 17U program for the Motor City Basketball Club over the past four years will add depth to the Bulldogs’ recruiting and developmental strategies.
Ferris State’s basketball tradition is anchored by more than 1,300 career victories, 17 GLIAC championships and 18 NCAA Tournament appearances, the most recent of which came in 2018 when the team captured a national crown.
The Bulldogs have reached the tournament nine times in the last eleven seasons and have posted at least twenty wins in ten of those years, a testament to the program’s consistency and competitive drive.
Beyond the hardwood, Garland holds a bachelor’s degree in Marketing Management from Albion and a master’s in Ethical Leadership from the University of Detroit Mercy, credentials that reflect his commitment to both sport and scholarship.
A New Era of Coaching
Garland’s addition signals a strategic shift toward integrating high‑level playing experience with modern coaching philosophies, a move that could position the Bulldogs for another deep tournament run in the coming seasons.