Rob Summers Named Cleveland State Head Men's Basketball Coach
CLEVELAND, OH – Rob Summers has been named the new head coach of the Cleveland State men’s basketball program, Director of Athletics Kelsie Gory Harkey announced today (April 9). Summers previously served as an assistant coach for the Vikings and becomes the 18th head coach in program history.
“We are thrilled to welcome Rob Summers, his wife Emelie, and his children Robert, Marina and Genoveva back to Cleveland State as our new men’s basketball coach,” Gory Harkey said. “I am confident Coach Summers will continue the success of the men’s basketball program he helped build as an assistant. We had great conversations with outstanding candidates from across the country, and Coach Summers stood out as the right leader for our program as we continue to strive to win championships in the classroom, on the court and in the community.”
An Ohio native, Summers spent 2019-2022 with Cleveland State as an assistant coach, where he helped CSU win the Horizon League and make its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2009. He served as the team’s offensive coordinator, helping the Vikings increase their scoring average by more than 10 points per game. CSU advanced to the postseason twice during his first stint with the Vikings.
Most recently, Summers joined former Cleveland State head coach Dennis Gates’ staff at the University of Missouri for the 2024-25 season, where he served as the team’s offensive coordinator and worked directly with the post players. As offensive coordinator, Mizzou was ranked ninth nationally in offense, while Mark Mitchell was third-team All-SEC. Missouri advanced to the NCAA Tournament in his lone season in Columbia.
Prior to joining the Tigers, Summers spent two seasons at Miami (Ohio) as associate head coach, where he helped the program achieve its highest Mid-American Conference finish in 10 seasons. Summers also served as an assistant coach at James Madison, three years as the head coach of Division II Urbana (Ohio) and two years at Glenville State as associate head coach.
As a player, Summers played two seasons at Penn State before transferring to West Virginia, where he helped WVU reach the sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament as a junior and win a NIT Championship as a senior. He graduated from WVU in 2007 with a sports management degree before earning a master’s in athletic coaching education in 2012. He played professionally in Europe, Asia, Africa and South America.
Cleveland State retained Collegiate Sports Associates to conduct an extensive national search for head coach candidates. Summers’ appointment is contingent upon a background check and the approval by the Cleveland State University Board of Trustees.
COACHING HISTORY
2011-13 – Glenville State (Associate Head Coach)
2013-14 – James Madison (Director of Operations)
2014-17 – Urbana (Head Coach)
2017-19 – James Madison (Assistant Coach)
2019-22 – Cleveland State (Assistant Coach)
2022-24 – Miami (Ohio) (Associate Head Coach)
2024-25 – Missouri (Assistant Coach)
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING ABOUT ROB SUMMERS
JOE MAZZULLA – HEAD COACH OF THE BOSTON CELTICS
“Rob and I not only played together at WVU but we worked together in our first coaching job as assistants. From him, I learned the importance of recruiting and relationship building. Since then, I have watched him grow in teaching the game and he has worked extremely hard to become a well-rounded coach. He has great energy, passion and desire to learn.”
DENNIS GATES – HEAD COACH AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI
“Coach Summers will be a Division I head coach. He is passionate about the game of basketball. He provides the authentic love necessary in developing young people and possesses an undefeated work ethic. He is great at building relationships within our campus community and nationally. He is a star.”