Bio

Aaron Muhic, originally from Silverton, Oregon, and raised in Alaska, was named assistant coach for the Willamette University men’s basketball program in 2023. He arrived at Willamette with more than 25 years of experience as a collegiate basketball coach and instructor, and he ranks among the top 25 active coaches in all-time NAIA wins.

Before joining the Bearcats, Muhic spent four seasons as head coach at Trinity Western University in Canada, preceded by a year as an assistant coach at Sierra College in Rocklin, Calif. His most notable tenure came at Jessup University (NAIA) in Rocklin, where he served as head coach for 13 seasons and compiled 173 wins. During his time at Jessup, he coached 11 NAIA All-Americans, two academic All-Americans, 24 all-conference selections, and 14 academic award winners. In just the program’s second year as a fully sanctioned NAIA member, Muhic led the Warriors to a national ranking of 18th, a program-best 13-3 conference record in 2008–09, and four straight winning seasons from 2006 to 2010. Jessup captured the 2009–10 California Pacific Conference Championship under his leadership, advancing to the NAIA National Championship for the first time in school history. In addition to coaching, Muhic served Jessup as assistant athletic director and instructor.

Muhic’s coaching career began in 1993 as an assistant at Pierce College (Wash.). He later earned his M.S. in Sports Science from the United States Sports University while serving as an assistant at Lane Community College (Ore.). In 1995, he was named head coach at Warner Pacific College (Ore.), where he built the program and won a Pacific Northwest Collegiate Conference Championship. He then spent a season at Glen Oaks College (Mich.), helping the team to an 18-12 record and a regional tournament berth, before moving west to San Jose Christian College (now Jessup University), where he led the team to the 2003 USCAA National Tournament.

As a player, Muhic was a standout at East Anchorage High School, guiding the program to several state tournament appearances. He continued his career at Eastern Oregon University, where he played four years for the Mountaineers, captained the team as a senior, and earned his B.A. in 1992.

Aaron and his wife, Shelby, have been married since 1994 and are the proud parents of their daughter, Madison, and son, Malachi.