WINTER HAVEN – Following the two most successful coaches in program history was no small task, but over his nine seasons at the helm, Polk State Basketball Head Coach Brandon Giles proved up to the challenge.

Giles will resign at the end of the 2025-26 season to pursue business ventures. During his time at Polk State, Giles has led the Eagles to 118 wins, two FCSAA Tournament appearances and has been part of several history-making moments.

"I'm most proud of the relationships that were built while I was here," Giles reflected. "It's been fun to grow and develop this program. I'm proud to be able to pick something up and make my own mark, be a positive influence and to help change lives."

Hired prior to the 2017-18 season, Giles followed Matt Furjanic, who led the Eagles to six conference championships over 17 seasons, after a stellar coaching career at the NCAA Division I ranks. Prior to Furjanic's arrival, Giles' late father, Josh Giles, spent 13 seasons at the helm, leading then Polk Community College to its only three FCSAA championships.

"I entered into this journey knowing it wasn't going to be forever," Giles said. "Contributing to the family legacy was very important to me."

Continuing a legacy

The best seasons for Polk State under the younger Giles came during the 2019-20 and 2021-22 seasons when the Eagles finished with 21-10 records. During the 2021-22 season, Polk State reached the FCSAA Tournament, making the Giles family the first father-son duo in FCSAA history to reach the state tournament.

"Year one is where we laid the foundation for what we created here," Giles added. "There are people in this community who love and support Polk State athletics and I'm excited to see that continue and where that goes."

In addition to the community, Giles feels fortunate to have had the support of his family. He and his wife Cortney have two sons, Jrue and Harden. His mother, Cynthia, and sister, Joslyn, have also been pillars of support – just as they were during his father's tenure.

Over his nine seasons, Giles has coached 28 All-Conference and six All-FCSAA selections. That included Tekorian "TK" Smith, the program's all-time leading scorer. Smith, who played from 2018 to 2020, was a two-time All-FCSAA selection.

"Coach Giles is a complete person," Smith said. "He was always down to talk basketball, life, business, whatever. He was very attentive. You might not think he was watching, but he always was. He was so full of grace – even when we didn't see eye to eye. I love the way he's carried himself on and off the court. He cared a lot and always put his players first."

Smith, however, was far from the only player to accomplish great things during Giles' tenure. Following the 2021-22 season, guard Tommie Lewis was named an NJCAA honorable mention All-American, becoming the first Polk State player to earn All-America status since Lance Jeter during the 2008-09 season. Janiel "JJ" Romer Rosario, who played at Polk State during the 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons before continuing his career at East Texas A&M University, became the first former Eagle selected in the NBA G League Draft when he was taken 12th overall by the Mexico City Capitanes in 2023.

"I'll forever remember the players, the deep conversations we had and their personal adversities that we faced together," Giles said. "That helped me grow as well."

As the son of the most accomplished coach in program history, Giles spent plenty of his childhood in the gymnasium and athletics offices on Polk State's Winter Haven Campus. Giles watched his father lead Polk State Basketball – the College's longest continued athletic program – to its biggest accomplishment as a child. That made preserving the program's proud history even more important to him.

"There will never be enough words to thank my supporters," Giles added. "Their willingness to step up and fill a void, believe in my vision, their guidance and being a continued sounding board for our program is second to none and truly inspired me. They showed me that what truly matters in life is family and serving others and I am so grateful. Together, we were all winners."

Giles was proud to tout that the 2024-25 season was the 60th in program history. That season culminated with a return trip to the FCSAA Tournament.

It was during that campaign that Giles earned his 100th career victory and forward Jimmy Cami set the Polk State single-game rebounds record with 27 in a victory over DME Academy. Despite a heartbreaking loss to top-seeded Daytona State College in the FCSAA quarterfinals, All-FCSAA guard Ty Owens became the first Polk State player in nine years to earn FCSAA All-Tournament honors, finishing with 21 points, five rebounds, four assists and two steals in the 68-66 defeat.

For more than 100 student-athletes who came through the program during Giles' tenure, Polk State served as a launching pad toward continued success. Keenon Cole, an All-Conference forward for the Eagles, would go on to earn All-Conference honors at Lindenwood University in Missouri in each of its first two seasons as an NCAA Division I program. Guard Dominick Nelson, a two-time All-Conference performer for Polk State, earned Western Athletic Conference Player of the Year at Division I Utah Valley University during the 2024-25 season and is now playing at Iowa State University, a top-10 team in the nation.

"I thank Brandon for his dedication to Polk State College and for his work with our student-athletes over his tenure," said Randy Lee, Polk State Director of Athletics. "We wish him nothing but the best as he transitions to the next chapter of his journey."

Father figure

Success after Polk State, however, hasn't been limited to basketball. Players like Jaelin Simpson, Broderick Oliver and Carson Beisner run their own businesses. George Pridgett, an All-FCSAA guard and team captain for Polk State during the 2022-23 season, is the co-founder of Property Shield, an Atlanta-based cybersecurity real estate startup.

"I'm forever grateful for Coach Giles," Pridgett said. "He's a father figure and a great community man in Polk County. He's a great male role model, a wonderful husband and a father. Coach Giles is a great example for young men of what a man should be."

Pridgett began his career at Jacksonville University, an NCAA Division I program. In September 2021, a month into his time in Jacksonville, Pridgett lost his father suddenly. Needing a change of scenery after one season, Pridgett formed a bond with Giles and averaged just under 20 points per game in his lone season in Winter Haven. Pridgett went on to conclude his career at Florida International University in Miami, graduating with a bachelor's degree in communications.

"I was a deep, dark place when my father passed," Pridgett recalled. "Coach Giles, who had also lost his father, gave me an opportunity that changed my life. He made the game simple for me, and it felt like it became pure again. I'll never forget what he did for me."

In addition to his players, many of Giles' assistants have also gone on to accomplish big things. Josh Jackson, who spent parts of eight seasons as an assistant to Giles, is now an assistant coach at NCAA Division II Clark Atlanta University. Jordan Talley, an assistant in Giles' first season of 2017-18, is now an assistant coach at NCAA Division I Duquesne University. A player development assistant at the University of Florida from 2022 to 2025, Talley helped the Gators win their third men's basketball national championship last season.

Giles has focused on expanding students' horizons beyond basketball, often explaining that they'll be men, husbands and fathers long after their playing days are over. Giles has helped facilitate shadowing opportunities with local businesspeople and community leaders. He's also held a weekly speaker series where accomplished individuals such as Polk Sheriff Grady Judd, author and motivational speaker Tony Gaskins and NFL fullback, national champion and filmmaker Freddie Stevenson, speak to the team to provide insight, motivation and inspiration.

"With young men, I knew there was a need for that," explained Giles, a former All-Conference guard at Western Carolina University. "From my own experiences, I knew basketball, as a player, was eventually going to end. I'm who I am because of guys like (friend) James Taylor, (coaches) Eric Robinson, Sean Hanrahan, (businessmen) George Tinsley, Larry Walker and Leo Etienne. They were father figures to me, and I looked up to them, not just because of their business successes, but who they were as people."

TK Smith went on to continue his collegiate career at Kent State University, Troy University and Prairie View A&M University before playing professionally in Europe and Asia. Back home in his native Memphis, Smith is the assistant coach at White Haven High School and hopes to work in the rehabilitation industry, helping those recover from addiction, homelessness and incarceration.

"Coach Giles always preached that things were bigger than just basketball," Smith explained. "He was very influential in my life. His presence will be missed. Coach Giles and Polk State gave me a lot of new brothers. Yes, I left with records, but more importantly, I have people I'm in contact with every day who have become my family."

With just six games remaining in his tenure, Giles takes solace in the impact that he's made over his nine years at the helm. He'll be honored prior to Polk State's Feb. 18 contest against St. Petersburg College. It will also serve as Polk State's annual "Black Out" game.

"I'm thankful for every player who has entrusted me with their careers," Giles concluded. "My only hope is that they learned lessons here and are able to meaningfully apply them to the rest of their lives. I've had so many players over the years reach back out and thank me for the difference I made for them and explained how I helped them. That's where my joy comes from.

"The next head coach will bring a new energy and style," he added. "I'm looking forward to seeing this program continue to grow and succeed under the next leader."