Houston, Texas native Darin Minniefield hired as EMCC assistant men’s basketball coach

SCOOBA – Houston, Texas native Darin Minniefield has been hired as East Mississippi Community College's assistant men's basketball coach, as announced this week by EMCC head men's coach Billy Begley.

"I am extremely excited to have Coach (Darin) Minniefield join the EMCC men's basketball program," Begley said. "He has spent the last two seasons working for a hall of fame coach and with some of the top talent in the country."

Minniefield, who prepped at Houston's Bellaire High School, spent the past two seasons serving separate one-year stints as a graduate assistant within the Southeastern Conference ranks at the University of Arkansas last year and the previous season at the University of Kentucky. Last season, he gained valuable experience serving on Naismith Hall of Famer John Calipari's Arkansas coaching staff as the Razorbacks advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16 before finishing the 2024-25 season with a 22-14 overall record.

"At East Mississippi, basketball is more than a game—it's a tradition built on grit, pride, and a relentless pursuit of excellence," Minniefield said. "Being part of EMCC's historic program is an honor, and I'm driven to add to its legacy while inspiring the next generation to chase greatness." 

Prior to joining the Kentucky men's basketball coaching staff in 2023, Minniefield benefitted from nearly a decade-long association within the Texas AAU ranks with the Texas Cagers and Houston Defenders. Having been associated with veteran NBA point guard and professional basketball coach John Lucas II, Minniefield has assisted more than 200 student-athletes with their college recruiting and helped developed many of them to succeed at the professional level. Minniefield also gained valuable experience working with the NBA's Detroit Pistons' summer league team.

"Darin will bring a wave of energy and knowledge to our players and our program, "Begley continued about Minniefield's addition. "His connections throughout the country at the grassroots level of basketball along with his NBA experience working with the Detroit Pistons' summer league team will also help tremendously in recruiting."

Following high school, Minniefield played his freshman season (2015-16) collegiately at Peru State College in Nebraska. He then transferred to Our Lady of the Lake University, an NAIA school located in San Antonio, Texas, where he was a three-year starting point guard and two-time honorable mention all-conference player for former Saints head coach Chris Dial. During solid consecutive seasons prior to the onset of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Minniefield posted per-game averages of 10.1 points, 3.5 assists and 3.0 rebounds in 2018-19. He followed the next year by averaging 8.8 points, 4.2 assists and 3.2 rebounds per contest at OLLU.

Minniefield, whose father (Dirk) starred at the University of Kentucky and played three seasons in the NBA, earned his bachelor's degree in psychology from Our Lady of the Lake University in 2021. He is currently pursuing his master's degree in adult life learning.