LAS VEGAS – Northern Kentucky men's basketball assistant coach Eric Haunt was been selected to participate in the prestigious 2022 TopConnect Basketball Symposium which took place at the Thomas & Mack Center on the campus of University of Nevada, Las Vegas earlier this week on Monday, June 27 presented by Teamworks and INFLCR. TopConnect (formerly Villa 7), originated in 2003 by then VCU Athletic Director Dr. Richard Sander, identifies the top assistant basketball coaches in the country and connects them with mid-major Athletic Directors providing tremendous networking and leadership development opportunities for both parties.

Northern Kentucky University head coach Darrin Horn welcomed Eric Haut as an assistant coach in May 2019. Haut has been instrumental in helping the Norse continue their dominance within the Horizon League. During his first year, NKU went 23-9 overall and finished second in the league standings. Northern Kentucky won the Horizon League Tournament and qualified for the NCAA Tournament, which was ultimately canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Norse followed in 2020-21 with a 14-11 mark and 11-7 record in league play, reaching their third-straight Horizon League Tournament semifinals. Most recently NKU finished 20-12 overall and 14-6 in conference, advancing to the Horizon League Tournament finals during the 2021-22 season. 

With more than 15 years as an associate/assistant coach at the collegiate ranks, Haut brings extensive experience to Horn's staff, most recently serving as the associate head coach at Kent State from 2016-19. Following a storied playing career for Kent State that resulted in an NCAA Elite Eight appearance in 2002 and NCAA Second Round effort in 2001, Haut's coaching career began as a graduate assistant on Horn's staff at Western Kentucky.

In its fifth year, TopConnect develops educational programming that allows these top assistant coaches to hear from a wide variety of successful leaders and speakers. The 2022 symposium is headlined by a panel of prominent and successful head coaches in Lindy LaRocque, Head Women's Basketball Coach at University of Nevada, Las Vegas; Simon Harris, Head Women's Basketball Coach at East Tennessee State University; John Aiken, Head Men's Basketball Coach at McNeese State University and retired Head Coach, Lon Kruger.

Athletic Directors presenting include, Mark Benson, University of Albany; Mike Capaccio, The Citadel; Bryan Blair, University of Toledo; Chris King, Robert Morris; Scott Garrett, Cleveland State University, Alex Ricker-Gilbert, Jacksonville University; Eugene Marshall, Hampton University; Drew Marrachello, Boston University; and Gene Taylor, Kansas State University. Also, joining the lineup of influential speakers are Debbie Spander, Insight Sports Advisors; Colton Houston, HD Intelligence; Glenn Sugiyama, DHR Global; Jeff Schemmel, College Sport Solutions and Kevin Barefoot, Teamworks.

Panel discussions and breakout sessions include Expectations of a Head Coach; Preparing for the Interview; First 365 Days Managing the Season and Developing Real Expectations; What ADs are looking for; Scheduling; NIL; Discipline and Motivation; Mental Health; Core Values; Building Support; The Future of College Basketball. The fan-favorite "Speed Dating" returns and allows for rapid networking to take place between the assistant coaches and administrators. The three-word mantra of "Connect. Prepare. Lead." identifies the purpose of TopConnect.

Since the inception of TopConnect in 2018, 35 assistant coach and assistant athletic director participants have been promoted to the next chair of Head Coach and Athletic Director as well as a Conference Commissioner.

TopConnect is on all social media platforms @TopConnectLead. If you have questions regarding TopConnect, please contact Dr. Richard Sander at sander@etsu.edu. TopConnect works in conjunction with Connected Media, LLC, East Tennessee State University's Doctoral program in Global Sport Leadership, #INFLCR and Teamworks.