Belton, TX – Former University of Mary Hardin-Baylor men's basketball player Zane Johnston has been promoted to full-time assistant coach for the Cru men's basketball team, UMHB head coach Ken DeWeese announced today. Johnston is just the fourth full-time assistant coach in the history of the Cru men's basketball program and he replaces Jimmy Smith, who left to become the head men's basketball coach at Schreiner University.

"I am extremely excited to be back at UMHB as a basketball coach," Johnston said. "I enjoyed my playing career here for Coach DeWeese and really look forward to the having the opportunity of being back on the floor and working with our players."

"I am excited about Zane taking on a full-time role with our coaching staff," Cru head coach Ken DeWeese said. "He is not new to the program since he was an outstanding player for us and he did a great job in all phases as a graduate assistant last season. We were aware of his competitiveness and respect his desire to be successful and I think he will be a real asset to our staff. He will continue the long line of commitment to excellence we've had in our assistant coaches."

Johnston spent last season as a graduate assistant coach for the UMHB men and helped guide the Cru to a school-best 24-1 regular season record. The Cru was ranked as high as #5 in the country during the season. Johnston is a 2010 graduate of UMHB with a degree in exercise and sport science. He was a four-year letterman for the Cru and still holds the American Southwest Conference record for career games played with 114. Johnston was a three-time ASC All-West Division selection and also earned ASC Academic All-Conference honors three times during his career. He played for two ASC Championship teams and three NCAA National Championship qualifiers with the Cru. Johnston has been involved with four UMHB's five NCAA Tournament appearances as either a player or coach. He is currently working on his Master's Degree in exercise and sport science at UMHB. Johnston also spent one year coaching in the Wylie Independent School District before returning to his alma mater as a graduate assistant. Johnston and his wife, Emmy, were married in the summer of 2010.

The Cru men finished the 2011-12 season with a 25-3 overall record. The UMHB men won the ASC West Division with a 20-1 league record and advanced to the NCAA Division III National Championships for the third straight year. UMHB also hosted the first two rounds of the NCAA postseason for the first time in school history.