Heiar names new director of basketball operations

LAS CRUCES, N.M. - The process of filling out his staff for 2022-23 continued Friday for NM State head men's basketball coach Greg Heiar.

In an announcement made by Heiar, the Aggies' first-year bench boss has added Chad Donley to his staff as NM State's Director of Basketball Operations.

"I'm really excited to announce Chad Donley as our Director of Basketball Operations," Heiar stated. "I've known him for a long time and worked with him the last two years. He has a great work ethic, knowledge of the game, ability to build real relationships with the players and understanding of myself on top of his laid back, "cool as the other side of a pillow" personality.

"He was instrumental in helping us win the national championship last year at Northwest Florida State College. Aggie fans are going to enjoy being around Chad and he going to love it here in Las Cruces. I'm excited to get to work with Chad again."

Already familiar with Heiar, Donley served as an assistant coach on Heiar's staff at Northwest Florida State in 2021-22. There, Donley helped the Raiders win the NJCAA Division I National Championship less than a decade after playing for the institution.

"I am beyond excited to have the opportunity to follow Greg Heiar to NM State and join his coaching staff," remarked Donley. NM State is a special place because of the winning tradition and the unbelievable community support for the basketball program. I am thrilled to call Las Cruces home. Thank you to coach Heiar and NM State Director of Athletics Mario Moccia for this opportunity and I can't wait to get to work!"

Donley's coaching career started in Johnson City, Tenn., where he was installed as a graduate assistant on then-head coach Steve Forbes' staff at East Tennessee State from 2015-17. Through Donley's two-year tenure, ETSU amassed 51 wins, appeared in a pair of Southern Conference (SoCON) Tournament title games and made the cut for the 2017 NCAA Tournament.

Directly after his two-year run on Forbes' staff at East Tennessee State, Donley earned his first full-time assistant coaching job in his home state. For the 2017-18 season, the native of Baker, Fla., helped Pensacola State College put up a 17-12 record. Over the course of the following two seasons, Donley was an assistant coach at Daytona State (2018-20) before returning to Johnson City, Tenn., to become the Director of Basketball Operations for East Tennessee State in 2020-21.

His affiliation with Northwest Florida State began in 2011-12 when he played for then-head coach Steve Forbes at the Niceville, Fla., institution. Donley started 33 of the Raiders' 34 games and helped lead them to a 32-2 mark and a spot in the NJCAA Division I National Championship game.

A 2014 graduate of Liberty University, Donley suited up for the Flames for two seasons (2012-13 and 2013-14) and appeared in 47 games for them upon the conclusion of his sole season at Northwest Florida State. With Donley in their corner, the Flames captured the 2013 Big South Tournament crown and made the cut for the opening round of the NCAA Tournament.

Donley put the wraps on his collegiate career in 2014-15 by joining Ohio Valley Conference squad Morehead State.

For complete coverage of NM State men's basketball as the Aggies gear up for year one under Heiar and his staff in 2022-23, visit NMStateSports.com - the official home of Aggie athletics - and follow the Aggies on Facebook (NM State Men's Basketball), Twitter (@NMStateMBB) and Instagram (@NMStateMBB).

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