HOUGHTON, Mich. – Ben Stelzer, a former player and assistant coach for the Michigan Tech men’s basketball team, has been appointed as an assistant coach for the Santa Cruz Warriors, as announced on Tuesday.
Stelzer is set to begin his second season with the Warriors, marking his first year in the role of 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, Stelzer spent two years as an assistant men’s basketball coach at Michigan Technological University, where he also played. Additionally, he worked as a player development intern with the Dallas Mavericks from 2019 to 2021.
His collegiate playing career began in 2011 with the Black & Gold, where he became a four-year starter and three-year captain for the Huskies. Stelzer is the program’s all-time leader in 3-pointers, with 363 made, and he achieved a 44-percent shooting rate during 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. During his time at Michigan Tech, he led the Huskies to three NCAA Tournament appearances and a memorable run to the NCAA Division II Sweet 16. After college, Stelzer played professionally in Spain for Layma Basquet Coruna, where he led the league in total 3-pointers and helped his team reach the playoff semifinals.