HOUGHTON, Mich. – Ben Stelzer, a former player and assistant coach for Michigan Tech’s men’s basketball team, has been appointed as an assistant coach for the Santa Cruz Warriors, as announced on Tuesday.
Stelzer is beginning his second season with the Warriors, taking on his first role as assistant coach. In the previous season, he held the position of coaching associate and basketball operations coordinator for the Sea Dubs. Before joining the Warriors organization, Stelzer spent two years as an assistant men’s basketball coach at his alma mater, Michigan Technological University. He also gained experience as a player development intern with the Dallas Mavericks from 2019 to 2021.
Stelzer began his collegiate playing career in 2011 with the Black & Gold, where he was a four-year starter and a three-year captain for the Huskies. He became the program’s all-time leader in three-pointers with 363 and achieved a shooting percentage of 44 percent in his senior year. His accolades include being named an NCAA Division II All-American, an Academic All-American, and the Midwest Region Player of the Year. He played a key role in leading the Huskies to three NCAA Tournament appearances, including a spot in the NCAA Division II Sweet 16. After completing his college career, Stelzer played in Spain for Layma Basquet Coruna, where he topped the league in total three-pointers made and helped his team reach the playoff semifinals.