Graduate Assistant Coach Grant Soffer begins his first year on the WNMU men's basketball staff for the 2016-17 season. A Philadelphia area native, Coach Soffer has worked at various levels of basketball. He started as a student manager at Drexel University in Philadelphia under head coach Bruiser Flint. Soffer has also worked overseas as an intern with a general manager at Pallacanestro Virtus Roma in the top division in Italy. There he was responsible for the Eurocup rules and regulations, national and international video and on-site scouting, scouting trip schedules, contacting coaches for references on potential players among many. While there the team made the semifinals in the league with players such as Bobby Jones (Washington & former 76er), Trevor Mbakwe (Minnesota) and Jordan Taylor (Wisconsin) to name a few. Coach Soffer found a player who was signed for the playoffs that season, Halil Kanacevic from St. Joseph’s University, being the first intern whose suggestion was implemented.
Soffer transferred to St. John’s University where he received his degree in Sport Management with a minor in business administration in May 2016. While there, Coach Soffer worked closely with the Brooklyn Nets at all home games in basketball operations for two season. In addition, Soffer has also worked events such as the Atlantic 10 tournament, NBA Summer League, Jordan Brand Classic and the NCAA tournament. This year Coach Soffer worked with the New York Rens AAU team helping out in practice and attending games for recruiting. The New York Rens boasted players such as: Hamidou Diallo, Jordan Tucker, Jordan Nwora and Jose Alvarado and past players, Rawle Alkins (Arizona) and Mustapha Heron (Auburn).
Coach Soffer is working on his Master’s Business Administration here at Western. He now lives in Murrieta, Calif., with his family when not on campus.
