Oct. 5, 2006

Newly acquired NJC men's basketball assistant coach D'Marr Suggs is on one of those streaks. If the streak stays true to form, the first-year coaching staff of Suggs and Head Coach Eddie Trenkle will make its mark on the Empire Conference right away.

"I haven't lost a conference championship in my three years as an assistant and as a head coach," Suggs said.

Suggs made the jump to NJC from Johnson High School in St. Paul, Min. He was the Junior Varsity Head Coach for two seasons and an assistant to varsity Head Coach Vern Simmons last season.

In his second season under Simmons, Suggs helped lead Johnson High to its first state tournament appearance in 82 years. Last season, Suggs and Johnson made it back-to-back appearances in the state tournament.

"He (Simmons) taught me patience in basketball," Suggs said. "I would get frustrated earlier in my career after giving up every basket. He told me every team is going to go on a run. He said we just need the last run."

Suggs' last run as a player came at Idaho State University where he was the team MVP and a First-Team, All-Big Sky selection after his senior season.

"It was an unbelievable experience playing Division I basketball," Suggs said. "It was the greatest time of my life. We went to the post season my junior year and I led the team in scoring my senior year."

Suggs didn't leave Idaho State with just his basketball accomplishments. He earned a B.S. in Physical Education while developing a coaching philosophy that is sometimes missed in today's era of chest-pounding and selfish trash talk.

"I believe in putting in the hard work for the sake of the team, not individual glory," Suggs said. "I respect the work and appreciate what each individual brings to the game."

Before his success at Idaho State, Suggs attended Merritt Junior College in Oakland, California, where he received his Associate's Degree in Social Behavior Science.

In his second year at Merritt, Suggs led the team to its first conference championship in 25 seasons. "There were a lot better junior colleges in California, but I went to Merritt to get away from home and grow up," Suggs said.

Suggs said his experience at Merritt gave him plenty of junior college experience to draw from to help guide him in his new role at NJC. He said he looks forward to bringing his experience to a well-established program.

"The good tradition that it has and the great support the community gives to NJC is what attracted me here."