Assistant Coach Preston Planells begins his second season with the Aggies, and his first full season as an assistant - earning the role after beginning as a graduate assistant on Head Coach Jody Adams’ staff.Â
Last season, the Aggies achieved 18 wins, including a first-round victory in the WNIT over Pacific, while posting their best record in conference play as members of CUSA (10-8). This earned NM State the No. 4 seed at the CUSA Championships, their highest seeding in a conference tournament since 2019 (No. 1, WAC).Â
Native to Upland, Calif., Planells competed for the University of Iowa men’s swimming & diving program, before transferring to the University of Utah. While competing for Utah, Planells led as team captain in his senior year, guiding his squad to notable victories over LSU and UNLV.Â
Planells earned a Bachelor of Science in strategic communications while studying in Salt Lake City and graduated in May of 2023, earning his way onto the Utes’ Dean’s List in four separate semesters. He also qualified as a College Sports Communicators Academic All-District member in February of 2023.
The Utah alum earned his start in basketball as an intern for Utah’s women’s basketball team where he contributed to the team by operating their scoreboard, assisting in drills and providing in-game assistance on the Utes’ bench. There, he developed a deeper understanding of coaching nuances and enhanced skills in game management and player development.
During his stint at Utah, he worked under the leadership of Lynne Roberts who has compiled nearly 400 wins during a 23-year career in collegiate basketball who now coaches for the Los Angeles Sparks.
