Coaching Staff


Jon Furbush
Office: (207) 786-6343
E-mail:
jfurbush@bates.edu

Jon Furbush was named the new men’s basketball coach at Bates after the 2007-08 season, succeeding his former coach, Joe Reilly.

Furbush, a 2005 Bates graduate and native of South Portland, Maine, became the college's 21st head men’s basketball coach.

In announcing the appointment, Bates Director of Athletics Kevin McHugh praised Furbush’s "passionate commitment to the college and to the basketball program," adding that "Jon separated himself from an extremely strong candidate pool as the best fit to be the next men's basketball coach at Bates."

McHugh noted that "the foundation that he received as a player and coach at Bates, combined with his energy and enthusiasm, an ability to lead and inspire, his work ethic, and his notable talent for recruiting made him the obvious choice of the search committee.

"We are thrilled that Jon will be taking over the reins of an established program and look forward to him leading the Bobcats to even greater success."

Furbush’s appointment, McHugh said, follows a "tradition of success that Bates basketball has experienced with the appointment of young head coaches." Since 1987, Bates basketball has thrice been led by head coaches in their 20s. Furbush, 25, succeeds Reilly, who was 28 when appointed in 1997. Rick Boyages, who went on to become a Division I head coach, was 24 when he began his successful four-year run as head coach in 1987.

Furbush was an assistant men’s basketball coach at Springfield in 2007–08 while pursuing a master’s degree in athletic administration. He held the same position for two seasons at Bates after graduating with a degree in American cultural studies.

"This is a great opportunity to get back in touch with my Maine roots," Furbush said. "Coming back to Bates is like a dream — getting to coach at my favorite school.

"I want to build on the culture Joe Reilly created and add a few of my own contributions," Furbush added. " want to use basketball as an extension of the classroom, preparing our student-athletes for the next step in life. The players in my program will all be respectful and valuable members of the Bates community and will take pride in striving towards excellence on the court and in the classroom."

Ph: (207) 671-9288
E-mail Coach Milks

Steve Milks enters his seventh season as the assistant men’s basketball coach at Bates College. Milks assists in several aspects of the program, including practices, game management and scouting. He works full-time as a pharmaceutical sales representative.

Originally from Massachusetts, Milks is a 1989 graduate of Cornell University, where he was a member of the Big Red football team. 

His passion for Bobcat basketball is unmatched. Milks brings the sort of positive energy to the program that can be scarce in the coaching realm. He lives in Auburn and is a proud father of two children, daughter Julia and son Dan.

Nick Cormier
Office: (207) 786-6342
E-mail:
ncormier@bates.edu

Nick Cormier enters his second season as the assistant men's basketball coach at Bates College. The Westbrook, Maine, native arrived in Lewiston after spending one year as an assistant at his alma mater, Southern New Hampshire University, where he earned a bachelor's degree in sport management.

Cormier assists in all aspects of the Bobcat basketball program, including game management, practices and recruiting. He has also served as a coach and counselor at various other summer basketball camps, including Five-Star, Eastern Invitational and Hoop Mountain.