Bio

Chris Hackett is entering his third year as the Director of Athletics at Florida Gateway College. This past year was another successful year for the Timberwolves, with Flag Football winning the national championship for the second consecutive year, Women’s Cross Country placing in the top ten in the nation for the first time in program history, and Men’s Basketball finishing as runners-up in the region championships. He has also continued to expand the athletic programs at FGC, with Men's Cross Country and Softball completing their inaugural seasons this year, and Women’s Golf set to debut in the fall. In addition to his duties at FGC, he also serves as the chair for the Region 8 Men's Basketball committee.

His first year saw unprecedented success for each of the school's athletic programs, as well as considerable growth of the overall department. Each of the Timberwolf programs qualified for the national tournament of their respective sport, including winning the national championship in Flag Football, a national runners-up finish in Overwatch (Esports), conference and region championships in Men's Basketball, and finishing eleventh in the nation in Women's Cross Country. He also supervised the construction of a new fitness center, an off-campus flag football complex, and the complete renovation of the Jean Williams softball field.

He came to FGC after spending eleven years as the Head Men’s Basketball Coach at Frank Phillips College, an NJCAA Div. I program in Texas. In addition to his coaching duties, he also served as the school’s Athletic Director for the final two years of his tenure. During his time as Athletic Director, Hackett oversaw major improvements to the athletic department, including upgraded technology, transportation, and facilities. He also improved staff structure, and increased funding for salaries, scholarships, and program budgets.

On the court, he left FPC as the Plainsmen’s all-time leader in wins, with 159 victories, including nine over nationally ranked opponents.

In 2016, he led the team to one of the best seasons in school history, compiling a 22-9 record and earning a place in the Region Tournament for the first time in a decade. He was also named as a finalist for the Hoopdirt.com National Junior College Coach of the Year.

In 2018, he recorded his 100th win at FPC, leading him to be named the Hoopdirt.com National Junior College Coach of the Week. It also saw former Plainsmen Alize Johnson selected by the Indiana Pacers in the NBA draft, making him the programs first ever draft pick.

In 2021, despite difficult circumstances due to COVID-19, he led the team to a 14-10 record and back to the Region Tournament. Once there, the Plainsmen beat New Mexico Military 78-65 in the first round, before falling 85-79 to eventual champions, Western Texas.

In eleven years, he coached twenty-seven All-Conference players, two All-Region players, and three Academic All-Americans. Fifty-eight of his players moved on to four-year schools, including thirty-five at the NCAA Division I or II level. More importantly, forty-three of his sophomores graduated with their Associates Degree.

Prior to FPC, he spent five years as the associate head coach at NCAA program, Florida Tech. During his time there, the Panthers produced one of the best turnarounds in school history, including a twenty win season, a school record 11-0 start and being ranked as high as #11 in the nation. They also recorded six wins over teams nationally ranked in the top twenty-five. He coached three All-Freshman players, the 2009 Freshman of the Year, eight All-Conference players, four All-Region players, the 2011 Region Player of the Year, and the school’s first All-American in twenty years. Individually, in 2007, he was named as one of the top ten assistant coaches in the country by Rivals.com.

A native of Sheffield, England, Hackett attended Sheffield College for three years, leading them to a National Championship in 1999, before playing one year at Allen Community College, (KS) to finish his collegiate career. He also played club basketball in England for eight years and competed in international tournaments in France and Greece. He has been involved in basketball throughout Europe, and was a featured speaker at the 2012 Future Stars International Coaching Conference in London, appearing alongside former LA Laker, Slava Medvedenko and the national team coaches of Denmark, Ukraine, Sweden, and the Netherlands. He has directed several basketball camps, including the Folgaria Basketball Camp in Italy, where the coaching staff included the legendary Rollie Massimino and the NBA’s Mike Fratello. He has also had numerous coaching articles published by basketball journals in both Europe and the United States.

Coach Hackett holds a Bachelor’s degree in Physical Education from Missouri Southern State University and a Master’s degree in the same field from Pittsburg State University, (KS).