DaSilva Named Assistant Coach at Northern Arizona University

Mike Adras announced on Wednesday that he has promoted Ivan DaSilva from graduate assistant to assistant coach for the remainder of the season to fill the void left by former assistant Billy Hix.

Hix resigned from his role on Dec. 29 for personal reasons after serving as an assistant on Adras' staff for more than four seasons.

DaSilva is in his first year with the Lumberjacks and has begun taking some of the responsibilities left by Hix including scouting future opponents and preparing for practice. DaSilva won't hit the recruiting trail right away with Adras and the team's two other assistant coaches, Will Hensley and Quintin Grogan.

"All this is, is something to help us get through the season," Adras said. "Ivan will start doing more. I give credit to all the coaches because everybody's doing more."

Adras said things have been difficult for his staff since Hix departed, but moving DaSilva into the assistant spot should help.

Before he resigned, Hix was largely responsible for coaching the team's post players. Hensley has moved from working with the team's guards to working with the posts, filling in for Hix.

"We have to figure out ways to still do our job," Adras said. "I couldn't tell you anything that's going on in the world right now. I don't have time for that.

"We're just trying to stay above water right now. We'll do it. We'll figure out a way to do it."

DaSilva came to NAU from Newbury College in Brookline, Mass., where he played for coach L.J. Harrington and served as a team captain in his final season.

He's currently pursuing a master's in educational leadership at NAU.

- Story provided by Daniel Berk, Sports Editor - Arizona Daily Sun