Angres Thorpe just completed his third season as a member of the Rockets’ coaching staff and his second year as the program’s associate head coach. He possesses 20 years of coaching experience, including the last five seasons on the bench alongside Head Coach Tod Kowalczyk.
      “Angres is one of the finest coaches in the country, and we are fortunate to have him as part of our program,” Kowalczyk said. “He has a special gift of developing relationships with players and is a tremendous motivator and recruiter. He is a vital component to our success.”
      In his first three seasons on the Toledo bench, Thorpe has helped UT implement a culture of discipline and accountability and rebound from back-to-back 4-28 campaigns. The 2011-12 season saw the Rockets produce the second-best turnaround (+15 wins) in the nation with their 19-17 win-loss mark. This past year, UT captured a share of the MAC West Division title while facing a NCAA post-season ban due to low APR scores from previous staffs.
      Thorpe also has played a key role in the recruitment and development of two-time All-MAC honoree Rian Pearson as well as 2011-12 MAC Freshman of the Year and 2012-13 third-team All-MAC member Julius Brown.
      Thorpe’s two seasons at Green Bay with Kowalczyk were memorable ones as the Phoenix posted a pair of 22-win seasons and advanced to post-season play for the first time since the 1995-96 campaign. His first year saw UWGB put together a 22-11 overall record, place second in the Horizon League and host a first-round game in the College Basketball Invitational. The Phoenix registered a 22-13 mark last season and advanced to the second round of the CBI.
      Prior to joining the UWGB program, Thorpe spent the previous six seasons (2002-08) as an assistant at Saint Louis University. During his time with SLU, the Billikens averaged 16 wins per season and were one of the top defensive teams in both the Atlantic 10 and Conference USA. Thorpe coached five all-conference players and two all-rookie selections during his tenure.
      Thorpe gained some familiarity with the Mid-American Conference when he worked two seasons as an assistant coach at Ball State. In 2001-02, the Cardinals posted a 23-12 record and earned a trip to the National Invitation Tournament. That campaign included upset wins over UCLA and Kansas at the Maui Invitational.
      From 1996 to 2000, Thorpe helped guide Lewis University to a 75-37 mark and two trips to the NCAA Division II tournament. He was the Flyers’ recruiting coordinator and was responsible for recruiting Illinois, Wisconsin, Ohio, Iowa and all junior colleges. During that time, the Flyers produced two Division II All-Americans.
      Thorpe began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Loras College in Dubuque, IA, from 1993-96. During his tenure, Loras produced a NCAA Division III All-American, and the Duhawks were three-time runners-up in the prestigious National Catholic Basketball Tournament.
            A Chicago native, Thorpe was a two-time All-Catholic League performer at Fenwick High School. He went on to become a four-year letterman at St. Leo College (FL). Thorpe earned his bachelor’s degree in business management from St. Leo in 1990.

The Angres Thorpe File
Born: September 1, 1968 in Chicago, IL
Hometown: Chicago, IL
Education:
B.S. in business management, St. Leo (FL) College, '90
Coaching Experience:
   2011-pr.  Associate Head Coach, University of Toledo
   2010-11  Assistant coach, University of Toledo
   2008-10  Assistant coach, UW-Green Bay
   2002-08  Assistant coach, Saint Louis University
   2000-02  Assistant coach, Ball State University
   1996-00  Assistant coach, Lewis (IL) University
   1993-96  Graduate Assistant coach, Loras (IA) College
Playing Experience:
   1986-90  St. Leo (FL) College