JUSTIN DOWNER IS THE HEAD COACH FOR THE POINT LOMA NAZARENE UNIVERSITY SEA LIONS IN SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA IN THE PACWEST CONFERENCE IN NCAA DII. JUSTIN PLAYED FOR SKAGIT VALLEY COLLEGE CARDINALS WHERE HE IS 2ND IN PROGRAM HISTORY IN MADE THREES AND PLAYED FOR THE WILLIAM JESSUP UNIVERSITY WARRIORS WHERE HE IS TOP 5 IN MADE THREES. HIS COACHING CAREER INCLUDES WORKING NBC CAMPS, BEING THE ASSOCIATE HEAD COACH FOR RIVERSIDE POLY BEARS, BEING THE ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR FOR WEST COAST ELITE IN AAU, BEING AN ASSISTANT COACH FOR VANGUARD UNIVERSITY LIONS AND BEING AN ASSISTANT COACH FOR THE CAL POLY MUSTANGS PRIOR TO JOINING THE COACHING STAFF FOR THE SEA LIONS.
JUSTIN SHARED ADVICE FOR YOUNG COACHES BY WRITING, “AS A YOUNG COACH I THINK IT’S REALLY IMPORTANT TO GAIN AS MUCH EXPERIENCE AS YOU CAN IN AS MANY AREAS AS YOU CAN FROM RECRUITING, SCOUTING, PLAYER DEVELOPMENT, ACADEMICS, FILM, ETC. DEPENDING ON YOUR RESOURCES AND RELATIONSHIPS, I THINK IT’S NOT ONLY IMPORTANT TO SIT IN ON PRACTICES/CLINICS AND LEARN FROM PROGRAMS AND COACHES YOU ADMIRE, BUT ALSO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO USE YOUR VOICE. I’VE BEEN VERY FORTUNATE THROUGH NBC CAMPS, RIVERSIDE POLY HS, AND WEST COAST ELITE TO HAVE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF RESPONSIBILITY ALLOWING ME TO APPLY EVERYTHING I LEARN, EXPERIMENT WITH DIFFERENT TOOLS, AND LEARN FROM MY OWN MISTAKES. IT’S ALLOWED ME TO BECOME A GOOD COMMUNICATOR AND LEADER ON THE FLOOR. I THINK IT’S ALSO IMPORTANT TO JUST BE AROUND AS MANY EVENTS, CAMPS, PRACTICES, ETC. AS POSSIBLE. COMPARE IT TO YOUR BELIEFS AND WHAT YOU’VE BEEN TAUGHT. CONSTANTLY CHALLENGE YOUR OWN BELIEFS AND FIND WHAT SYSTEMS, LEADERSHIP STYLES, AND PROGRAM PHILOSOPHIES YOU THINK YOUR PERSONALITY AS A COACH CORRELATES WITH. UNDERSTAND THAT STARTING OUT THAT THIS ISN’T A CAREER THAT MAKES MONEY. YOU NEED TO BE PREPARED TO WORK FOR FREE AND SPEND YOUR OWN MONEY ON OPPORTUNITIES WHERE YOU CAN. BELIEVE THAT IF YOU PUT EVERYTHING YOU HAVE INTO IT, IT WILL BE GOOD TO YOU IN RETURN. IT’S A VERY DIFFICULT CAREER IF YOU’RE NOT “ALL IN” ON IT. MOST IMPORTANTLY, ENJOY THE JOURNEY. THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES WE HAVE AS YOUNG COACHES THAT WE MIGHT NEVER EXPERIENCE AGAIN. SOAK IT UP AND PUT YOURSELF IN SITUATIONS WORKING WITH PEOPLE YOU LOVE WORKING WITH AND GOING TO WAR WITH EVERYDAY. BE THANKFUL AND GRATEFUL, NO OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN OR GET BETTER IS TO BE TAKEN FOR GRANTED.”
