Cliff Hunt enters his seventh season as the head coach of the Lake Erie College men’s basketball team and is already the all-time winningest coach in program history. His teams are responsible for just about every team record in the history books, including most wins in a season (25) and fewest losses in a season (3). Under his direction, the Storm made its only two NCAA Tournament appearances, most recently competing in the second round during the 2006-07 season. His teams also earned the only two Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) championships – both regular season and tournament, in program history with back-to-back titles in the 2005-06 and 2006-07 seasons.

He has compiled an overall record of 90-73, which is the best winning percentage of any coach in the program’s 23 seasons. He was voted AMCC Coach of the Year in 2006 and was also honored that same year and the following one at the NABC Champions Awards.

Prior to Lake Erie, Hunt spent a total of 24 years as a head coach in the high school ranks at West Geauga and Perry. A former Associated Press Ohio High School Coach of the Year, Hunt went 356-194 in his high school career, leading his teams to 11 sectional championships, eight conference championships, four district championships, two regional championships and two state runner-up finishes. He holds the record for most coaching victories at both Perry and West Geauga High Schools, where his teams won 33 consecutive regular season games and an AP Poll championship.

He was voted conference coach of the year eight times, Great Lakes District Coach of the Year five times, Greater Cleveland Coach of the Year four times and was an Ohio Associated Press Coach of the Year. He’s also coached in several all-star games, including the Ohio North-South game, has spoken at numerous coaching clinics and been published in Hooplines Magazine.

A 1969 graduate of Hiram College with a bachelor’s degree in sociology education, he was a four-year letter winner and two-time captain and most valuable player in both basketball and track. He has been inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame at both Hiram and his high school alma mater of Strongsville. Hunt also has a master's degree in education from Kent State University and resides in Concord with his wife Pam. They have three children, K.C., Kelly and Chad.

Hunt at Lake Erie

Kyle Conley is entering his third season overall with Lake Erie men's basketball and his second as an assistant coach. He joined the Storm staff in 2009 as the team’s graduate assistant.

In addition to his gameday and administrative duties, Conley also coordinates the Storm's series of successful on-campus summer camps and clinics.

Prior to coming to Lake Erie, Conley spent four seasons as an assistant at his alma mater, The University of Findlay. While there, he helped the Oilers to a four-year mark of 112-16, four NCAA Tournament appearances, three GLIAC South Division championships and a pair of GLIAC Tournament championships. The 2005 team reached the Elite Eight and finished the season ranked first in the final NABC Coaches’ Poll. In the 2006-07 season, Findlay went undefeated in league play. Conley was also on the Findlay staff for the 2007-08 season when the Oilers knocked off Division I Ohio State in an exhibition game on the Buckeyes’ home floor.

Conley also has three years of coaching experience at the high school level, working with the teams at Marion Harding and Elgin high schools.

Prior to earning his degree in business management from Findlay, Conley was a member of the basketball team at Tiffin University. He is currently pursuing a master’s degree in education at Lake Erie.

Former Storm student-athlete Mark Skopal joined the Lake Erie men's basketball staff as a graduate assistant coach for the 2010-11 season and is in his second year with the team. 

The 2008 Lake Erie graduate played four years for the Storm and was a part of two Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference championship and NCAA Tournament teams. He was a 2007-08 AMCC All-Conference Sportsmanship Team selection. He started every game at center for the Storm that season and served as a team captain.

The Houston, Texas native earned his bachelor's degree in business administration.  

Long-time high school coaching veteran Mike Piks is in his second season as a volunteer assistant coach with the Storm men's basketball program. 

Immediately prior to coming to Lake Erie, Piks was an assistant at Mentor High School where he helped the Cardinals to five regional tournaments and one state semifinalist appearance.  Before that he worked on the staffs at West Geauga and Perry High Schools.  While at West Geauga, he was part of two teams that finished as state runners-up.

Off the court, Piks is the owner of the award-winning TEAM Painting and Construction and is the immediate past president of the Mentor Chamber of Commerce where he has served on the exectuive board for seven years. He also serves as the chairman of the Lake Erie Storm Club advisory board.

Piks and his wife Amey reside in Mentor with their three children, Branden (17), Caleb (10) and Abby (7).