COACHES
Jamie Nilles
17U UNDER ARMOUR – RED | HOOPTOWN ELITE DIRECTOR
With nearly 30 years at Hooptown Elite, Jamie Nilles has dedicated his career to developing young athletes on and off the court. A Hall of Fame player from Spokane Community College, he’s spent over three decades in education, including 17 years as head basketball coach and 13 as Athletic Director at West Valley. His coaching emphasizes fundamentals, teamwork, and personal growth, shaped by experience across multiple sports.
Basketball runs deep in his family—his wife, Renae, played at Long Beach State; his daughter, Shaniqua, at Gonzaga; and his granddaughter, Nevaeh, is already growing up surrounded by the game. Through his role with Hooptown Elite, Jamie continues to shape Spokane’s basketball community—building character, competition, and skill with every player he mentors.
Jim Psomas
17U UNDER ARMOUR – RED
Jim Psomas is a veteran AAU basketball coach with more than 30 years of experience guiding and developing young athletes. As a founding member of Hooptown Elite (formerly Eastern Washington Elite), he has played a pivotal role in establishing one of the region’s premier youth basketball programs. Over the course of his career, Coach Psomas has mentored and coached numerous players who have gone on to compete at the NCAA Division I level. His leadership, dedication, and deep understanding of the game have made him a respected figure in the Pacific Northwest basketball community.
Jim resides in Spokane with his wife, Julie.
Kevin Smith
17U REGIONAL – BLACK
Kevin Smith grew up in Oakland, California, where he played basketball at Fremont High School before continuing his career at Umpqua Community College and Whitworth College. After earning his degree in education from Eastern Washington University, he spent three years as an assistant coach at EWU before beginning his long teaching career at Chase Middle School, where he has taught physical education for 31 years.
Kevin has coached at multiple levels, including five years as an assistant at Lewis and Clark High School and another five at Spokane Community College. Now in his ninth year with Hooptown Elite, he uses his decades of experience to mentor young athletes. Kevin and his wife, Lisa, a fellow educator, have two children—Kobe, a basketball player at the University of Puget Sound, and Kennedy, a volleyball player at California Lutheran University.
Tyrone Ashley
17U REGIONAL – BLACK
Tyrone Ashley brings over two decades of experience guiding young athletes on and off the court. As the head girls basketball coach at West Valley High School, he built his reputation over 20 years as an assistant before stepping into the lead role and has also coached track for eight years. For the past 10 years, Tyrone has been part of Hooptown Elite, including the last five leading the 17U Regional team, helping players sharpen their skills, develop confidence, and understand the game at a deeper level.
Beyond coaching, Tyrone has over 30 years of experience as a referee, sharing his love of basketball in every role he takes on. Through Hooptown Elite, he continues to mentor Spokane’s youth, fostering resilience, court IQ, and a passion for the sport.
CJ Johnson
16U UNDER ARMOUR – WHITE
CJ Johnson is the Associate Head Coach at Lewis-Clark State College, where he is entering his sixth year with the program. A former player at Whitworth University, CJ brings his college coaching experience and deep understanding of the game to his role with Hooptown Elite, where he has coached since 2019. He focuses on helping players grow their skills, sharpen their decision-making on the court, and foster a genuine passion for the sport.
CJ lives in Lewiston, Idaho, with his wife, Tiffany. When he’s not in the gym, he enjoys golfing, boating on the Snake River, and cheering on his Jacksonville Jaguars—win or lose.
Mike Hamilton
16U UNDER ARMOUR – WHITE
Mike Hamilton has spent over 20 years coaching JV and varsity basketball at West Valley, sharing his love for the game with generations of players. He has been a Hooptown Elite coach since around 2010. A lifelong basketball player at the YMCA, AAU, and high school levels, Mike enjoys mixing all aspects of the game to help each athlete grow.
Off the court, Mike balances family life with his daughter, a dog, and a cat, and enjoys golf, boating, and the outdoors. He also manages a construction company while continuing to mentor Spokane’s youth through Hooptown Elite.
Kyle Olson
16U REGIONAL – GREY
Kyle Olson grew up in Spokane, Washington, and played high school basketball at University High School before continuing his education at Spokane Falls Community College. He has been coaching at Freeman High School since 2010 and is currently in his seventh season as head varsity coach. Kyle has also coached his son’s AAU team from 4th through 8th grade, as well as basketball and baseball at Freeman Middle School.
Now in his second season with Hooptown Elite, Kyle brings a passion for developing young athletes, fostering teamwork, and building strong fundamentals. He and his wife of over 17 years, Ali, run an off-market real estate business, and their son, Micah, plays basketball at Freeman High School.
Payton Nielsen
16U REGIONAL – GREY
Payton Nielsen is a JV head coach and varsity assistant at Newport High School and is in his second year coaching with Hooptown Elite. An All-State football and basketball player at ACH High School, Payton played three seasons with Hooptown in high school and continued his basketball career at Big Bend Community College before earning a teaching degree from Central Washington University. He brings the same energy and dedication to coaching as he does to teaching first grade where he has a blast making every day fun and engaging for his students. He brings that energy, creativity, and patience to coaching, helping players enjoy the game and develop their skills.
Outside of basketball, Payton enjoys spending time with his girlfriend and their dog.
Corey Standerfer
15U UNDER ARMOUR – BLUE
Corey Standerfer is a former professional basketball player with a decorated career, including two league MVP awards, four league scoring titles, three rebounding championships, and three seasons as league assist leader. Recognized as a “Top 2 Import All-Time” in Australia’s Big V league, Corey also spent nine years as a coaching director in Australia, overseeing the strategy and development of over 30 teams each season from youth to professional levels.
Since returning to the U.S. in 2024, Corey has served as a varsity assistant at West Valley High School and joined Hooptown Elite, sharing his expertise, strategy, and passion with young athletes.
Reece Jenkin
15U UNDER ARMOUR – BLUE
With a passion for the X’s and O’s of basketball, Reece Jenkin brings over 16 years of coaching experience to Hooptown Elite, including a 291-112 record, eight state appearances, and state championships in 2012 and 2024 at Colfax. He has spent the past three years coaching with Hooptown Elite, helping players maximize their skills and reach their potential. A former standout player at Reardan High School, Big Bend Community College, and Whitworth University, Reece emphasizes fundamentals, teamwork, and tailoring strategies to each player’s strengths.
Reece enjoys spending downtime with his wife, Breanne, and their three children, Adrik, Allie, and Ryker. Through Hooptown Elite, he continues to mentor Spokane’s youth, fostering both skill and character development on and off the court.
Garren Garza
15U REGIONAL – GOLD
Garren Garza is a varsity assistant at Medical Lake High School and has been coaching with Hooptown Elite for two years. A former all-league player at Medical Lake, he specializes in ball handling and focuses on developing strong relationships with his players while helping them grow their skills on the court.
Off the court, Garren enjoys spending time outdoors and playing basketball with family and friends. He’s an uncle to two nieces and a nephew, he brings the same dedication and mentorship to Hooptown Elite, helping Spokane’s youth build confidence, fundamentals, and a passion for the game.
Ramon Farias
15U REGIONAL – GOLD
Coach Ramon Farias brings more than 25 years of experience coaching boys and girls at the AAU and travel basketball levels. He currently leads the Liberty High School girls varsity team, which he guided to a 4th-place finish at State this past season. A former player at Toppenish High School, Ramon is also known for running a popular annual dribbling camp that hosts more than 375 young athletes each year.
Ramon focuses on fundamentals, ball-handling, and player development, emphasizing hard work, confidence, and teamwork in every athlete he coaches. Married to his wife, Lynn, for 35 years, he has four children—Ryan, Natalie, Erik (a Hooptown Elite alum), and Ricky. When he’s not coaching, Ramon enjoys riding his street strider, reading, and helping shape the next generation of players.
Brett Ward
14U UNDER ARMOUR – GREEN
Brett Ward lives and breathes sports—especially basketball. He is an assistant basketball coach at Medical Lake High School and is in his first year with Hooptown Elite. With a focus on ball handling and player development, Brett is passionate about helping young athletes strengthen their fundamentals and confidence on the court.
Outside of coaching, Brett enjoys playing basketball, watching sports, and staying connected to the game he loves. Through Hooptown Elite, he’s excited to help shape the next generation of players and foster a lifelong love for basketball.
Vince Grippi
14U UNDER ARMOUR – GREEN
Vince Grippi has been coaching with Hooptown Elite since 2011, following a 30-year career in journalism that included covering Washington State men’s basketball during Tony Bennett’s tenure. Immersed in Cougar basketball, he became a student of the Pack defense that helped Bennett win an NCAA title at Virginia in 2019. He also had a stint at Ferris High, serving as both an assistant and head coach for the girls’ program.
As a Hooptown Elite coach, supported by his wife, Kim (a former NCAA Division I player), Vince focuses on preparing Hooptown’s younger age groups for high school basketball, emphasizing disciplined man-to-man defense and helping players reach their full potential on the court.
Garret Sawyer
14U REGIONAL – ORANGE
Coach Garret Sawyer is the varsity girls’ basketball coach at Freeman High School and has been coaching for the past seven years, including time at both Central Valley and Freeman. A Central Valley alum, he helped lead his team to a 2nd-place finish at State his senior year before playing collegiately at Walla Walla Community College and Eastern Oregon University, where his team reached the NAIA Sweet 16. He also spent a season competing in Spokane’s PBA semi-professional league.
Now in his second year with Hooptown Elite, Coach Sawyer brings a wealth of playing and coaching experience. Off the court, he and his wife are excitedly preparing to welcome their first child—a baby girl—this spring.
Kyle Hurst
14U REGIONAL – ORANGE
Kyle Hurst brings over a decade of experience coaching basketball at both the high school and collegiate levels. He began his career at Central Valley High School, where he led the girls program. Kyle then spent six years as an assistant with Whitworth University’s nationally ranked men’s program, gaining expertise in player development, scouting, and game strategy at the NCAA Division III level.
Following his time at Whitworth, Kyle returned to high school basketball, serving as a varsity assistant at West Valley High School and then Ridgeline High School, where he looks forward to coaching his son. Kyle joined Hooptown Elite in 2016, helping young athletes prepare for the next level of competition.