Meet Our Coaches
Men's Head Coach
In only five years, Darren “Dip” Metress has taken Augusta State Basketball from a losing record to national prominence. Coach Metress, who was named the fifth head coach in the program’s history on May 10, 2004, wasted little time in rebuilding the Jaguars. He won 19 games in his first season at the helm of the Jaguar program, leading ASU to victories over three nationally-ranked opponents. Metress added 15 wins in his second season and then, in just his third year, guided ASU to its second-best season in school history in 2006-07. Not only did the Jags win 24 games and a PBC regular-season championship that season, Metress was named PBC Coach-of-the-Year and ASU earned a No. 1 regional seeding. The Jags served as hosts of the NCAA South Atlantic Regional and advanced all the way to the semifinals.
In 2007-08, it got even better. Metress guided ASU to what was, at the time, the top season in school history, posting a 27-7 record and advancing all the way to the NCAA Tournament’s National Championship game and a national television appearance on CBS. Along the way, the Jags earned the highest national ranking in school history at No. 5 and clinched their first South Atlantic Region championship, earning their first berth in the Elite Eight.
Just when you thought the Jags were out of magic, Metress guided ASU to a 30-5 record in 2008-09 that included a school-record No. 3 national ranking, a sweep of the PBC regular-season and tournament championships, a second straight NCAA Regional Championship, and a return trip to the Elite Eight. ASU lost in the National Semifinals to Cal Poly Pomona (74-70), but garnered more national respect with the selection of Garret Siler and Ben Madgen as All-Americans, and finished the year with a No. 4 national ranking.
Off the court, Metress has been equally successful. Under his tutelage at both Augusta State and formerly Belmont Abbey, 33 of 35 seniors who have finished their eligibility have either graduated or are on track to earn their degrees.
Coach Metress is married to Heather and are the parents of a daughter, Elizabeth Margaret.
UNDER COACH METRESS
- ASU is 81-19 (.810) overall in the last three seasons
- ASU is 39-4 (.907) At Home in the last three seasons
- ASU is 48-8 (.857) In the Peach Belt Conference in the regular season inthe last three seasons
- ASU is 23-3 (.885) on Saturdays in the PBC in the last three seasons
- ASU IS 19-7 (.731) VS. NATIONALLY-RANKED OPPONENTS in the last five seasons
Women’s Head CoachRobbie McKinlay is in his fourth season as a member of the Augusta State Men’s basketball coaching staff. Named to the assistant coach’s post on Sept. 25, 2006, McKinlay aids in all aspects of the Jaguar men’s basketball program, including scouting, film preparation, on-the-floor instruction and off-season conditioning.
A native of Sydney, Australia, McKinlay played collegiately under Coach Metress at Belmont Abbey College in Belmont, N.C., and helped lead the Crusaders to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances. He finished his career as the school record holder in winning percentage (.790) with 49 wins and 13 losses. He earned the Crusader Award following his senior season and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business management in 2003.
McKinlay began his college career at Coastal Georgia Community College in Brunswick, Ga., where he played two seasons for head coach Gerald Cox and earned honorable mention all-conference honors as a sophomore. He led CGCC in assists both years and helped lead the squad to the GJCAA conference championship.
After college, McKinlay played one season for the West Sydney Razorbacks in the Australian Professional League. He spent the 2005-06 season with the Sutherland Sharks of the ABA Waratah League, teaming with former ASU standout Cameron Tovey to capture the league championship.
McKinlay is excited to head coach the 2010 Lady Grads program. As a young coach he sees this as an ideal opportunity to keep his options open in the coaching world. McKinlay respects the women’s game and is looking forward to working with the girls on this summer tour and sees a possibility of working with both Men’s & Women’s programs in his future.
Women’s Assistant Coach
Sports Travel Academy Tour Guide
Craig Douglass was born in Sydney, Australia where he lived for most of his life until relocating to the USA in 2002. Residing in Cary, North Carolina, Craig has been involved with the operation and planning of over 70 international tour groups. Craig has coached basketball extensively in Australia including a 2 year stint with the Sydney Comets in the Women’s semi-pro CBA league. In 1994 Craig also served as an Assistant Coach at Lafayette Jefferson HS in Indiana, and in 1995 & 96 he coached at the Australian Junior Camp. From 1995-99 he worked part-time in Australia’s Olympic Athlete Development Program as an ITC Head Coach in Sydney’s Southern Region. More recently (to our knowledge) he became the first Australian to Head Coach a USA college basketball program. Craig enjoyed 2 years as the women’s basketball coach at Flagler College in St. Augustine, Florida. In March 2006 Craig resigned from Flagler to return to the travel industry where he worked full time for 6 years prior to 9/11/2001. While at Flagler, Craig was still involved in international group travel on a part time basis.
Craig graduated from the University of Western Sydney in 1995 with a degree in Sport Management and majors in sports psychology & communication.
Craig is married to Amanda and has a 2 year old son named Jake with another baby due in May 2010.
