Cecil Avant

Cecil Avant joined the Florida Institute of Technology men’s basketball staff ahead of the 2025–26 season, bringing more than 15 years of diverse coaching and player development experience. Avant has worked across multiple levels of the game, including high school, AAU, collegiate basketball, and individualized player development. His background as both a former collegiate student-athlete and a head coach has shaped a well-rounded approach focused on skill development, leadership, and long-term athlete growth. At Florida Tech, he works under Head Coach Will Murphy and contributes to recruiting, player development, and daily program operations within the Sunshine State Conference. Avant’s playing career included time at Florida Gulf Coast University, Nova Southeastern University—where he served as a team captain—and Elms College in Massachusetts. At Elms, he played a key role in a conference championship season and NCAA Tournament appearance, averaging 12 points and four assists per game while shooting 95 percent from the free-throw line. Following his playing career, Avant began coaching at the University of New England before moving into high school basketball, where he served as head boys’ varsity coach at South Plantation High School from 2014 to 2020. After relocating to Orlando, he became a founding member and Director of Player Development for Nona Basketball Academy, overseeing a rapidly growing program that developed hundreds of athletes and helped numerous players advance to the collegiate level. A South Florida native, Avant is a graduate of Cypress Bay High School and currently resides in Palm Bay with his wife and two daughters.