Head Coach
Michael Claxton
michael.claxton@uprovidence.edu
Coach data is provided for recruiting research and should be confirmed with the official athletics website before contact.
Basketball Staff Contacts
Verified 2026-08-15 from this program's own staff page. Staff change during the recruiting cycle, so confirm before sending outreach.
| Name | Role | |
|---|---|---|
| Michael Claxton | Head Coach | michael.claxton@uprovidence.edu |
| Dylan Hushaw | Assistant Coach | dylan.hushaw@uprovidence.edu |
| Lucky Lovan | Head Strength & Conditioning Coach | lucky.lovan@uprovidence.edu |
| Courtney Hicks | Athletic Trainer | courtney.hicks@uprovidence.edu |
About University of Providence Basketball
A Providence education paired with college basketball means earning a degree that holds weight in the job market while developing your game on a consistent schedule. Head coach Steve Keller runs a Frontier Conference program focused on player development and retention, you get meaningful minutes and the chance to prove yourself without constant roster turnover. The NAIA platform offers real advantages: you're not buried on a bench in a Power Conference, you're building stats that matter for your profile, and you're developing in an environment where coaching staff actually track your growth. Great Falls gives you a tight-knit campus where basketball isn't lost in the noise of 40,000 students. You'll play significant games, compete in conference tournaments with postseason stakes, and have genuine opportunities to impact winning. Providence's academic programs are solid across business, education, and sciences, degrees that employers recognize. The transfer portal exists at every level, and playing meaningful minutes here positions you better for the next step, whether that's a higher division or professional opportunities, than riding the bench elsewhere. Keller's program values consistency and player investment. You know where you stand, how much you'll play, and what development looks like year to year. That clarity matters when you're balancing school and sport. Every serious recruiting conversation starts with preparation. Florida Coastal Prep, located in Fort Walton Beach, FL, trains post-grad and high school players to compete at the college level and attract the right attention. See if it's the right fit at floridacoastalprep.com or /apply/.
NAIA programs can offer scholarships and a high level of competition in a smaller-school environment. Learn about NAIA basketball scholarships and how this division compares to JUCO options before finalizing your recruiting list.
What Recruits Should Know About NAIA Basketball
The Frontier Conference operates within the NAIA, where scholarship opportunities exist but recruiting timelines and standards differ from NCAA programs. NAIA coaches recruit primarily through direct outreach, exposure events, and coach-to-coach referrals. Academic requirements are governed by the NAIA Eligibility Center, a separate process from the NCAA.
University of Providence and its Frontier Conference peers offer full and partial scholarships to players who fit their system. Smaller rosters mean more playing time for the right player, and NAIA programs regularly produce players who transfer up to D2 and D1. Getting evaluated starts with sending updated film and a clear academic transcript directly to the coaching staff.
Coach Connections That Open Doors to University of Providence
FCP's coaching staff maintains relationships with programs across NAIA, built through years of placing players at the college level. When an FCP coach calls a staff member at University of Providence, that call gets returned. Those coach-to-coach referrals are often what converts a prospect from "film received" to "offer extended."
Our post-graduate program leverages those connections to create real recruiting opportunities for players who have done the work to be ready. Apply to FCP and join a program with a track record of college placements.
Whether you're a current high school player exploring options through our high school program or a graduate looking for a post-grad year, FCP provides the coaching, competition, and college placement support to help you reach programs like University of Providence.
University of Providence Is Within Reach: If You're Ready
The difference between a player who gets offered by a NAIA program and one who doesn't often comes down to timing and preparation. FCP prepares athletes for the moment when University of Providence's coaches are ready to evaluate, so you don't miss your window.
Coaching contacts compiled by the FCP recruiting staff. Cost and graduation figures from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, retrieved 2026-08-13.