Cory Hoff enters his first season as an Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach at New Mexico Military Institute for Coach Sean Schooley in 2023-24. Hoff brings 9 years of college coaching experience to NMMI with 4 years at the NJCAA Division I Level. Prior to NMMI, Hoff spent 1 season as the Head Boys Basketball Coach at Skyline High School in Mesa, Arizona.

Before NMMI

At Skyline

During Hoff’s lone season at Skyline High School (Mesa, AZ), Hoff took over a program that had won 1 game the previous season while only returning 2 players, 0 starters, and lost 90% of their scoring while playing in 6A, the highest classification in Arizona. The 2022-23 season saw Skyline win more games than the previous 2 seasons combined. Additionally, the Coyotes produced an Honorable Mention All-Conference guard in Jeremiah Cole. Hoff helped Skyline decrease their defensive scoring per game by 15 points while being one of the youngest teams in the State.

Skills Development Trainer

Hoff spent the 2021-22 year serving as a Skills Development Trainer. Hoff worked with high school, college, and professional players during the off-season to help develop their skillsets. In addition to creating specialized workouts for players, Hoff also assisting with creating video edits for these players to review.

At Graceland 

During the three seasons with Hoff at the helm, Graceland had 7 All-Conference players, 1 All-American, 4 wins over NAIA Top 25 opponents, 10 team rankings in the NAIA Team Statistics Rankings and a quarterfinal appearance in the Heart Conference Tournament.

The Yellowjackets faced an uphill battle going into the 2019-20 season after losing 4 starters and 82% of their scoring from the previous season. During the 2019-20 season, the Yellowjackets posted wins over NAIA National Tournament Qualifiers against Lincoln College (85-76) and Clarke University (77-76). Additionally, the young Yellowjackets defeated #20 Central Methodist University on the road (77-59). Graceland was ranked in the NAIA Team Statistics Rankings at 23^rd in assists per game (15.8), 28^th in 3-PT field goals made per game (9) and 30^th in total 3-PT field goals made (270). This was the second straight season that the Yellowjackets were ranked in the Top 30 for 3-PT field goals made per game and total 3-PT field goals made.

Two Yellowjackets were honored for their production on the court during the 2019-20 season. Junior forward Virgil Walker was named 1^st team All-Heart of America Athletic Conference and Honorable Mention NAIA D1 All-American. Freshman guard Doc Self was named Honorable Mention All-Heart of America Athletic Conference.

In his inaugural season as head coach at Graceland (2018-19), Hoff led the Yellowjackets to a 16-15 overall record. The Yellowjackets won their first round game in the Heart of America Athletic Conference Tournament over Mount Mercy before losing to #1 ranked Benedictine (67-64) in the Quarterfinals. Graceland got off to one of the best starts in school history by opening up with a 6-0 record before falling to NCAA D2 Colorado Mesa (69-66) on the road. 

Season highlights include three wins over the Top 25 (at No. 19 MidAmerica Nazarene, No. 11 Central Methodist and No. 17 Peru State) and spending multiple weeks in the NAIA D1 Coaches’ Top 25 Poll. The Yellowjackets, known for their defensive prowess, finished 22nd in NAIA D1 in scoring defense per game (72 PPG) while holding five teams on their schedule on their season low in points. Known for ability to space the floor, Graceland finished 15th in NAIA D1 in total 3-PT field goals made (307) and 16th in 3-PT field goals made per game (9.9). 

The Yellowjackets were recognized for their production on the court with senior guard Mo Jackson being named 2nd team All-Heart of America Athletic Conference. Senior wing Will Nelson, senior forward Justin Harley, and senior forward Alec Pena also claimed a spot on the Honorable Mention All-Heart of America Athletic Conference team. 

Off-the-court, the Yellowjackets were involved with the community. Community service projects included reading to the Lamoni Elementary and assisting with the Special Olympics. 

Before rising to the head coaching position, Hoff was a part of two successful seasons at Graceland. 

The 2017-18 season was a season to remember for the Yellowjacket program. Despite entering the season unranked and picked to finish fifth in the Heart conference in the preseason poll, Graceland finished the season as NAIA Division I National Champions. Graceland finished the season with a school record 29 wins, with the final five of those coming through their run through the National Tournament, located in Kansas City. The 2017-18 season ended with the Yellowjackets beating the LSU-Alexandria Generals on a last-second buzzer beater in overtime in front of a NAIA tournament record attendance of 6,377. 

Hoff was promoted to Associate Head Coach for the 2017-18 season after a successful 2016-17 season. Known for his ability to recruit and develop student-athletes, Hoff’s efforts were recognized by CoachStat.net, after being named #4 on their Diamonds in the Rough of Small College Coaching list. 

The 2016-17 season featured the Yellowjacket program achieving their first NAIA Division I national ranking in program history. Graceland went from being picked to finish tenth in the Heart of America conference in the preseason poll, to finishing fifth in the regular season while advancing to the conference semifinals in the Heart of America tournament. Hoff served as acting head coach as Graceland won at MidAmerica Nazarene University in December, a place that the Yellowjackets had not won since at least 2005. 

Hoff played an integral part in the success of the Graceland program. Hoff played a role in all aspects of the program, but primarily focused on recruiting, defensive game planning, scouting, academic support, eligibility, and budgeting. During Hoff’s tenure with the Yellowjacket program, seven players received all-conference recognition, including Jeremy Deemer and LT Davis being named first-team all-conference. Deemer and Davis were named NAIA Division I All-Americans while at Graceland. Additionally, Graceland defeated ten Top 25 teams during Hoff’s tenure, highlighted by a win over #1 William Penn University. 

At Mesa Community College 

Hoff began his coaching career as an assistant coach at Mesa Community College (AZ) from 2012-16 under the legendary coach Sam Ballard. While Hoff was at Mesa, the Thunderbirds complied an 84-36 overall record, while making the NJCAA Region I Division I playoffs each season. In addition to a 68-20 conference record in ACCAC play, Mesa won the ACCAC regular season and NJCAA Region I Division I playoff championships during the 2013-14 season. Mesa also finished as ACCAC regular season runner-ups in both 2012-13 and 2014-15. 

While Hoff was involved in all aspects of the men’s basketball program at Mesa, his primary responsibilities included recruiting, player development, game preparation, scouting, and academic support. The Thunderbirds carried eight wins over Top 25 teams during Hoff’s tenure, including a win over #1 South Plains College. Hoff recruited and developed eight all-conference athletes while at Mesa, including NJCAA Division I 2nd team All-American, Khari Holloway. 

The Personal Side 

A native of Deckerville, Michigan, Hoff was born on July 25, 1988. Hoff graduated from Arizona State University with a bachelor of science in Exercise and Wellness, and from Concordia University – Irvine with a master of arts in Coaching and Athletic Administration. He and his wife, Tatum, reside in Roswell with their two daughters, Talea (12) and Caley (7). Hoff believes in building a “family-first” culture within his programs and his family is involved with many aspects of the program. Hoff and his family enjoy being involved within the Roswell community.