Staff Directory
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Ed Kohtala
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
- Email:
- Phone:
- 816-235-1038
Ed Kohtala is in his second season as an assistant coach with the UMKC men’s basketball program. Kohtala, who worked with Coach Brown at Florida in 1996-97, served as the head coach at Division III Alma College from 2001-07.
During his tenure at Alma, Kohtala oversaw all aspects of the program from budgeting to scheduling to alumni outreach, while also being an adjunct professor in mathematics at the college. On the recruiting trail, he established a new recruiting philosophy and approach with particular attention to urban areas in Michigan. During his six-year run, Kohtala guided six players to all-conference honors, and he coached an MIAA scoring leader.
Before heading to the Great Lakes State, Kohtala spent three seasons as an assistant men’s basketball coach at the University of Texas. While at UT, Kohtala helped lead the Longhorns to a 68-31 (.687) overall record, which included three straight NCAA Tournament appearances (1999, 2000, 2001). In 2001, Texas finished the season as the 18th-ranked team in the country after finishing with a 25-9 overall record.
Prior to his stint in Austin, Kohtala spent one season as an assistant coach in the Atlantic Coast Conference at Clemson University in 1997-98. Kohtala earned his first collegiate coaching job in 1996-97 as a graduate assistant at the University of Florida under Head Coach Billy Donovan. During this stop, Kohtala was a member of the coaching staff that included UMKC’s Matt Brown.
Kohtala began his coaching career in 1984-85 as the head basketball coach and teacher at St. Edward’s High School in Vero Beach, Fla. After completing four seasons at St. Edward’s, he served as an assistant for five years at Vero Beach High School. He also served as head coach at Rabun-Gap Nacoochee High School in Rabun-Gap, Ga., for three years.
Kohtala has coached seven players that have gone on to play in the National Basketball Association. Three of those players, Greg Buckner (Dallas Mavericks), Maurice Evans and Chris Mihm (Los Angeles Lakers), are currently active in the NBA. This list also includes: Royal Ivey (Atlanta Hawks), Harold Jamison (Miami Heat), Chris Owens (Memphis Grizzlies) and James Thomas (Philadelphia 76ers.)
A native of Vienna, Maine, Kohtala graduated from Mt. Blue High School in Farmington, Maine. He then went on to earn his bachelor’s degree in secondary education from the University of Maine in 1981.
He and his wife, Angie, have two daughters, Camille and Katherine.
During his tenure at Alma, Kohtala oversaw all aspects of the program from budgeting to scheduling to alumni outreach, while also being an adjunct professor in mathematics at the college. On the recruiting trail, he established a new recruiting philosophy and approach with particular attention to urban areas in Michigan. During his six-year run, Kohtala guided six players to all-conference honors, and he coached an MIAA scoring leader.
Before heading to the Great Lakes State, Kohtala spent three seasons as an assistant men’s basketball coach at the University of Texas. While at UT, Kohtala helped lead the Longhorns to a 68-31 (.687) overall record, which included three straight NCAA Tournament appearances (1999, 2000, 2001). In 2001, Texas finished the season as the 18th-ranked team in the country after finishing with a 25-9 overall record.
Prior to his stint in Austin, Kohtala spent one season as an assistant coach in the Atlantic Coast Conference at Clemson University in 1997-98. Kohtala earned his first collegiate coaching job in 1996-97 as a graduate assistant at the University of Florida under Head Coach Billy Donovan. During this stop, Kohtala was a member of the coaching staff that included UMKC’s Matt Brown.
Kohtala began his coaching career in 1984-85 as the head basketball coach and teacher at St. Edward’s High School in Vero Beach, Fla. After completing four seasons at St. Edward’s, he served as an assistant for five years at Vero Beach High School. He also served as head coach at Rabun-Gap Nacoochee High School in Rabun-Gap, Ga., for three years.
Kohtala has coached seven players that have gone on to play in the National Basketball Association. Three of those players, Greg Buckner (Dallas Mavericks), Maurice Evans and Chris Mihm (Los Angeles Lakers), are currently active in the NBA. This list also includes: Royal Ivey (Atlanta Hawks), Harold Jamison (Miami Heat), Chris Owens (Memphis Grizzlies) and James Thomas (Philadelphia 76ers.)
A native of Vienna, Maine, Kohtala graduated from Mt. Blue High School in Farmington, Maine. He then went on to earn his bachelor’s degree in secondary education from the University of Maine in 1981.
He and his wife, Angie, have two daughters, Camille and Katherine.
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