Tom Emory has been a basketball coach and trainer for over 24 years, mentoring athletes in the Spokane community from ages 5 to 25. Tom comes from a family that is deeply involved in the game of basketball – his dad, wife, and daughter all played college basketball. His dad was a High School Championship coach in Colorado Springs, Colorado and his daughter is currently the varsity girls’ basketball coach at Lewis and Clark High School in Spokane. Below are some of the highlights of Tom’s career:
With an impressive 11 yers of basketball experience under his belt, Garrett’s journey is a testament to his unwavering dedication and love for the game. Garrett’s basketball odyssey began at Northwest Nazarene University, continued through Southwest Oregon Community College, and led him to Multnomah and Portland Bible Colleges, where his faith and basketball talents beautifully intertwined.
Known for his versatile shooting skills and ability to score from all three levels, Garrett’s impact extends beyond the court and into the hearts of the Spokane community. For the past four yers he has been the Elementary Director at Life Center, earning respect for his commitment to uplifting others.
Guided by unwavering faith, Garrett attributes his success to a higher power and strives to lead both on and off the court, embodying values like hard work, faith, and community. His journey from Nampa to Spokane is a remarkable story of faith and an unrelenting pursuit of excellence. His faith, dedication, and passion for the game and community make him a valuable addition to our team.
Bogdan Blyzniuk hails from Lutsk, Ukraine.
Humility in action, precision in coaching, and compassion in every session, former Big Sky Conference Player of the Year and EWU all-time leading scorer, Bogdan is a fantastic part of our training team.
After graduating from EWU, he played professionally in Ukraine on Beni Herzliya, Kyiv-Basket, BC Budivelnyk, and Cholet Basket teams. He represented Ukraine in FIBA competitions and made the Ukraine National team in 2018. We re so pleased to have him available to our ITZ members for one-on-one training or to lead our classes.
Austin Vansant is the ITZ General Manager. A Spokane Valley native, he epitomizes the journey from adversity to inspiration. As a student from East Valley High School, he embraced both football and basketball, transcending a challenging upbringing.
Basketball carried Austin to Yakima Valley Community College, where he pursued his passion and nurtured his talent. However, an ACL injury and tibia fracture redirected his path, leading to a business degree from Texas Christian University.
Professionally, Austin has a strong commitment to youth development, particularly through the Spokane community. He credits basketball with saving him and attributes his success to faith. Austin’s heart belongs to Spokane, where his mission is to empower kids, instilling in them the belief that anything is achievable. His story embodies resilience, faith, and a profound commitment to inspiring the community.
Keylan IS the ITZ Front Desk. When you see Keylan, you see ITZ. He is the heart and soul of the front desk and the go-to for a warm smile and expert assistance. His love for basketball is infectious. When he’s not at the desk, you might see him helping out with camps or classes. He’s versatile and an awesome asset to ITZ.
