Hire of Bobby Suarez completes Eastern Washington basketball staff

Eastern Washington’s basketball staff is complete with the hiring of assistant Bobby Suarez, coach Shantay Legans announced Tuesday.

“I just can’t say enough about these guys – it’s a young staff and they work really hard,” said Legans, a longtime assistant who replaced Jim Hayford on March 29.

Suarez, an assistant video coordinator at Florida State and 2012 graduate of Florida Gulf Coast, joins recent hire Nick Booker and returning assistant David Riley.

“He is energetic, well-connected, and ready to hit the ground running right away,” Legans said of the 27-year-old Suarez, who served as video coordinator during Florida Gulf Coast’s Sweet 16 NCAA run in 2013.

Suarez didn’t play college ball, but Legans said he was impressed with his “attentiveness and desire to work hard and win.”

Suarez’s responsibilities at Florida Gulf Coast included on-court development, compiling video edits and assisting with on-campus recruiting.

During that time he worked with players such as Brett Comer (who finished his career ranked 24th on the all-time NCAA career assists list), Bernard Thompson (the 2013 Atlantic Sun Defensive Player of the Year), Chase Fieler (the all-time program leader for rebounds, blocked shots and field goals made).

At Eastern, Suarez will continue to work with film, while contributing in recruiting and player development at all positions.

Suarez’s hire also clarifies responsibilities for the four-man staff, Legans said.

Booker, who also be Legans’ associate head coach, “is a great defensive mind” who also will work with post players in practice.

Riley, whom Legans calls a “mad genius” with analytics, will focus on offense while working with the wing players, including senior Bogdan Bliznyuk.

Legans will work with the guards.