After working several years as a Moraine Valley assistant coach, Kyle Huppe was named Cyclones men's basketball head coach last month.

Huppe joined the Moraine Valley coaching staff in spring 2019 under Head Coach John Chappetto, who stepped down after this basketball season. As part of the coaching team, Huppe helped the Cyclones earn two Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference championships over the last four years, and he hopes to continue those winning ways.

"I'm really excited. I'm hoping to continue what Chappetto built for four years and [Bill] Finn before that; keep the tradition going," Huppe said. "The mindset is to keep winning and try to make the leap to a regional championship."

Huppe played basketball for four years at Saint Xavier University before becoming a basketball varsity assistant at St. James Academy near Kansas City, Kansas, and then a graduate assistant at Louisiana Tech University. While at Saint Xavier, he was coach by Chappetto, who later encouraged Huppe to join the coaching staff when he was hired to lead the program.

"I've wanted to be a head coach for a while. Chappetto encouraged me to be an assistant for a few years, which helped better prepare me for this new role. He's been a huge influence," Huppe said.

Joining him on the bench will be Aaron Green, who has been a Cyclones assistant coach since 2018 and also was from 2011 to 2013. The two mesh well and plan to hire another assistant to complete the staff. Until then, Huppe is planning to meet with the returners and find some solid recruits.

Huppe doesn't plan to change much as team leader but has a few ideas. He wants to figure out what motivates student-athletes and bring good energy to the team every day. He wants structure at practice with an all-inclusive team with one common goal and to be a cohesive group, not individual players on the court.

"We have a good core coming back, and usually they make big leaps from one year to the next. They can help the incoming freshmen," Huppe explained. "Our motto is tougher together. We're a lot tougher with one common goal."