WINTER HAVEN – With Polk State Basketball's longest tenured assistant coach now in California, Head Coach Brandon Giles found a familiar face to fill the void.

After spending the 2019-20 season with Polk State as an assistant coach, Michael Porrini has returned to the program and will serve in the same capacity. He'll try to help fill the gap left by Josh Jackson.

"Florida is my happy place," Porrini said. "I like to call it my second home. It just so happened that as I was returning, Coach Giles gave me a shout to see if I was interested in coming back. I love what he's doing here for this program and in the community."

In Porrini's lone previous season on the Polk State coaching staff, the Eagles finished 21-10 and spent time in the national NJCAA Poll for the first time under Giles. Giles and Porrini first met in 2007 when they were teammates and roommates at Western Carolina University.

"He has great character," Giles noted of Porrini. "He's a great motivator. He knows how to create relationships and can be an extension of me in the community."

A native of Massillon, Ohio, Porrini spent just one season with Giles at Western Carolina but averaged 11.3 points. 5.2 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and nearly two steals per game as a freshman during the 2007-08 season. As a redshirt freshman during the 2009-10 season, Porrini got his first taste of junior college when he played at Gulf Coast State College in Panama City. In addition to averaging better than 11 points and five rebounds, Porrini led his team in assists and steals to earn first-team All-Panhandle Conference honors.

"Junior college gave me an opportunity," Porrini reflected. "I'm proof of what can happen for players who work hard and handle their business. To come to a college that prepares players for the next level is a blessing. I know what these young men go through and what they have to do to be successful. Sharing what I learned makes sense to me."

Porrini would go on to conclude his collegiate playing career at Kent State, an NCAA Division I program in Ohio. As a junior during the 2010-11 season, Porrini was named the Mid-American Conference (MAC) Defensive Player of the Year while earning MAC honorable mention and All-Tournament honors as the Golden Flashes reached the quarterfinals of the National Invitational Tournament. As a senior the following year, Porrini earned third-team All-MAC recognition while leading Kent State by averaging 4.7 assists and 1.7 steals per game.

"His story is similar to what many of our young men want to achieve – JUCO guy who went on to have an excellent basketball career," Giles added. "He helped establish a winning culture while he was here the first time. He was on staff for one of our most talented teams. He's bringing a lot of positive experiences with him."

Following his collegiate career, Porrini played professionally in Greece, Turkey, Romania, Hungary, and for the Oklahoma City Blue, the NBA G League affiliate of the Oklahoma City Thunder. In 2016, Porrini became the youngest general manager in The Basketball Tournament (TBT) – a nationally televised $1 million single-elimination tournament held each summer – when he was tabbed to help lead Mid American Unity. He coached and managed Mid American Unity from 2016 to 2021.

"As a coach, I reiterate the philosophy that 'if you always do what you've always done, you get the same result'," Porrini explained. "Coach (Rob) Senderoff said that while I was at Kent State and that really stuck with me as I got into coaching. Hard work beats talent when talent isn't working hard."

Porrini also coached the Ohio Cardinals of the North America Premier Basketball League before his first stint at Polk State. Forced to head back to Ohio during the COVID-19 pandemic, Porrini spent the last four years as director of Charg1ng Sports, a youth organization founded by former Ohio State University All-American quarterback and 2014 national champion Braxton Miller.

"I want to show up every day and do everything I can to get the young men I'm working with better," Porrini exclaimed. "The goal here at Polk State is to win a championship. My biggest goal is just to be a positive influence and make a positive impact."

In addition to his basketball accolades, Porrini holds a bachelor's degree from Kent State in educational studies. He's also father to a 13-year-old son, Aven, and an 18-year-old daughter, Madyson, who is currently a freshman at the University of Cincinnati. Off to a 12-5 start this season, Porrini believes bigger things lie ahead for the Polk State Basketball Program.

"The sky is the limit," he concluded. "We have great resources in this community. Having the caliber of athletes we have across all sports gives the kids in this community people to look up to. I appreciate Coach Giles, Polk State, and the Athletics Department for allowing me to return. I look forward to seeing how we finish this season and to whatever the future brings."