Aggies name Leitzke new men's basketball assistant

LAWTON, Okla. (May 26) - Cameron officials announced Wednesday the hiring of former Southwest Baptist University assistant Maurice Leitzke as the school's next men's basketball assistant coach. Leitzke, who spent two seasons at SBU following a professional basketball career overseas, will assume his duties with the Aggies beginning July 1.

"I think Maury will be an excellent head coach eventually - possibly in the near future," said Cameron head coach Garrette Mantle. "We were looking for somebody who would able to organize and run a college basketball program and I think Maury has the attributes to do that.

"He's shown that he is a very good recruiter by the talent that existed on the teams at Southwest Baptist the last couple of years and he's well-traveled in the fact that he has played and coached overseas. That experience, along with the recruiting connections he has developed nationally, was something that definitely attracted us to him."

Prior to coming to joining the Bearcat staff in 2002, Leitzke played professionally in New Zealand, Austria and Australia. He played for the Mighty Hawks in New Zealand in 2002 and the Dornbirn Lions of Austria in 2001. From 1998-2000, he played for the Goldfields Giants in Australia and coached middle school basketball in Tucson, Ariz., from 1999-00.

In 2002, he was the second leading scorer in Australia's National Basketball League, averaging 22.1 points per game. He also led the Skywest Basketball League in three pointers made and free throw percentage from 1998-200. Leitzke set a league record with most points scored in the fourth quarter (24) and also set a league record for most three-pointers made in a game (10). Leitzke was voted Best New Import by SBL referees in 1998.

"Maury's had a successful playing career, but he's a good teacher, as well," Mantle said. "He will be a good communicator with our student-athletes. He's very organized and very detail-oriented and that's one of the things that I really like about him."

Before his stint in professional basketball, Leitzke was a collegiate standout. He began his college career at Valparaiso University from 1991-93, before transferring to McHenry Community College for the 1993-94 season. Leitzke played one season at Southwest Baptist before finishing his eligibility at Evangel University, where he was an NAIA All-American selection in 1996.

"Maury played for Homer Drew at Valparaiso and I think Coach Drew is one of the best teachers in college basketball," Mantle said. "I talked to Coach Drew during this process and asked him if he had a position available on his staff, would he hire Maury. He said he'd hire him in a second."

As a prep player at Woodstock High School in Woodstock, Ill., Leitzke was a two-time Northern Illinois Class 2A Player of the Year and a McDonald's All-American candidate.

Leitzke's wife, Torey, is a former Miss Basketball Arizona and was a member of the Butler University women's basketball team that garnered the school's first-ever invitation to the NCAA women's basketball championships in 1997. She has served as an assistant coach on the women's basketball staff at Southwest Baptist the past two seasons and will pursue an elementary school teaching career in Lawton.

"Torey is a certified elementary school teacher and is looking to teach here in Lawton," Mantle said. "The Leitzke's are a wonderful young family of impeccable character and we are excited to have them joining the Aggie family."