George Parker
Ass't. Coach

Scott Reid
Ass't. Coach

Brock Veltri
Ass't. Coach

Adam Swinyard
Ass't. Coach

Jeff Hironaka, Head Coach

For so many years he was the man behind the scenes. Now, Jeff Hironaka is the front man for Seattle Pacific University basketball and, if his first four seasons at the helm is any indication, the Falcons figure to be one of the top NCAA Division II programs for years and years to come.

Hironaka, who was instrumental in establishing SPU as a regional and national force, pushed his first team into the NCAA tournament faster than any of his predecessors. Last season, in his fourth as head coach, Hironaka’s Falcons won 26 games and the Great Northwest Athletic Conference championship, and matched the best NCAA tournament advancement, reaching the semifinal round of the Elite Eight.

Hironaka was voted both the GNAC coach of the year and the West Region coach of the year by the NABC.

It came as no surprise that Hironaka restored the program to prominence. His 16-11 record in 2002-03 was the second-best debut season in the program’s modern history. In his third year, SPU made the NCAA tournament. Going into the 2006-07 season, his teams have won 76 of 115 games.

Hironaka was promoted to head coach Apr. 30, 2002, replacing Ken Bone, who resigned after 12 years to accept a position at the University of Washington. Hironaka had been Bone’s top assistant for 11 years.

During his tenure at Seattle Pacific, Hironaka has proven vital in the Falcons’ rise to national prominence. With him on the bench , they have gone312-126, earned six outright or shared conference championships and have qualified for NCAA Division II tournament berths 10 of the last 13 years. In 2000, the Falcons reached the Final Four for the first time.

“SPU could not find a more knowledgeable or dedicated person to take the reins of our program,” said athletic director Tom Box, whose coaching search started and finished with Hironaka. “Jeff is the type of person who gives everything he has to his work. For 11 years he was loyal, tireless and intelligent in how he supported Coach Bone, the players and the men’s basketball program. He’s also a Christian coach who strives to present a positive role model to his athletes. That’s important to SPU.”

“When I first discussed the opportunity with him, I could see the fire in his eyes and it was obvious he felt ready. We all believe Jeff will light a fire in this program as it begins a new era.”

“This is my first choice of where I’d like to be head coach,” said Hironaka, who had coordinated the team’s defensive strategies and recruiting under Bone. “I’ve invested a great deal of time and effort in helping to build this program and I‘d like to continue the job and finish it by bringing home a national championship at some point in time.”

Hironaka is believed to be only the active Japanese-American head coach of a four-year program. Of the last seven head coaches hired by Seattle Pacific, six (including Hironaka) had previously served as assistants at the school. His 11-year run as Bone’s chief aide was the longest of any assistant in program history.

Hironaka has over 20 years of bench experience and an extensive network of contacts in the college game. He has coordinated the team defensive strategies, along with the program’s recruiting, travel and correspondence with opponents. Hironaka joined Bone’s staff in 1991 and became the associate head coach in 1996.

Before coming to SPU, Hironaka had three years of experience at the Division I level. He served on the staff at Idaho State from 1987-90, and later was an assistant and assistant athletic director at The Master’s College in Newhall, California. While at Idaho State he completed his master’s in sports administration.

A native of Weiser, Idaho, Hironaka began his coaching career in earnest in the prep ranks, beginning at his old high school as coach of the junior varsity and varsity assistant in 1980. In 1986 he became head coach at Idaho’s Ririe High School, and moved to Blackfoot High the following year.

Hironaka was also an accomplished player, lettering three seasons at Eastern Oregon, where he obtained his degree in secondary education in 1980. He was a member of the team’s coaching staff in 1979-80. In high school, he was an all-Snake River Conference selection at guard at Weiser. An avid runner, he is single and resides in Seattle’s Queen Anne neighborhood.

George Parker, Assistant Coach

George Parker returns to the Seattle Pacific staff for his 17th season as an assistant. A former collegian and pro, Parker originally joined former ABA teammate Claude Terry's staff in 1986.

Parker previously was a graduate assistant and volunteer assistant to Terry Holland at Virginia from 1979-83. He graduated from Saint Martin's College in Lacey, Washington, in 1971. The Saints' No. 9 career scorer, he was drafted by the Portland TrailBlazers of the NBA that year. Following a hitch in the army, he resumed playing with Baltimore of the ABA in 1975. Most recently he coached the Shorecrest High School girls' team for three seasons.

Parker is a research chemist for Boeing. He and his wife Margaret have a grown son, Bryan, and daughter, Maureen, and live in Lake Forest Park.

Scott Reid, Assistant Coach

Scott Reid is in his fourth season as an assistant coach for the Falcons.

Reid came to Seattle Pacific after serving two years as head coach of the boys team at Bellevue’s Newport High School, where he was twice selected KingCo coach of the year. The Knights reached the state 3A tournament in 2002. Previously, he was an assistant boys and girls coach at Mercer Island, and an assistant to the boys team at Franklin High School in Seattle.

Reid attended Michigan State, Scott also operates the Wild Tiger Pizza Kitchen, with two locations in Seattle. He and his wife Kelly have two daughters, Savanna and Ashlyn, and reside in Mercer Island.

Brock Veltri, Assistant Coach

Brock Veltri is in his third season as the top assistant coach on the Seattle Pacific coaching staff , with the Falcons having qualified for the NCAA tournament in each season.

Veltri is in his eighth year of coaching. Prior to arriving at SPU, he spent two years in a similar position with Scottsdale Community College in Arizona.

He began as an assistant for his alma mater, Judge Memorial High School in Salt Lake City. While completing his master’s degree in athletic administration, he was on the Idaho State staff as a graduate assistant.

A Utah native, Veltri played two years at Peninsula College in Port Angeles, Wash., under then head coach Mark Amaral (UCSB). From there he earned his bachelor’s degree in political science at Utah.

Coach Veltri also coordinates the Falcon Basketball Camp for Boys each summer. He and his wife, Jenny, reside in Seattle.

Adam Swinyard, Assistant Coach

Adam Swinyard enters his first season as an assistant coach for the Falcons. Swinyard is in his fourth year of coaching.

Previously Swinyard served as the head assistant coach at Northwest University in Kirkland, Washington. During the 2005-06 campaign Swinyard helped lead the Eagles to a school record 24 win season. Prior to his coaching role at Northwest, Swinyard played two years for the Eagles.

Swinyard earned his bachelor’s degree from Northwest in Secondary Education. He currently resides in Kirkland, WA.