Josh Giles was raised in the inner city of Detroit, Michigan, where he overcame numerous economic and academic challenges.  Because of the strong influence and tutelage he received from his high school coach, the legendary George W. Gaddy, he was compelled to pass guidance on to numerous basketball players, nationally as well as internationally.  Throughout his life, he developed a host of long-term relationships, mentors, and professional contacts which also attributed to his success as a coach and mentor.

Coach Giles played basketball at Okolona Junior College, and later at the University of West Texas State where he received a BS degree in Education.  He later obtained his Masters Degree in Library Science from the University of Maryland.  His coaching career began in 1970 at Shaw College in Detroit, Michigan.  Coach Giles later worked as an assistant coach under the legendary Dr. Glen Wilkes at Stetson University.  After serving under Wilkes, coaching quickly became the main focus in his life.  From this point on he was simply known as Coach Giles.

Coach Giles became known on the coaching circuit as an excellent recruiter.  He served as a head coach at Florida A & M University, as an assistant at University of New Orleans and Mercer University, culminating in 1987 as head coach at Polk Community College where he retired in 2000.  While at Polk Community College, he won numerous State Championships as well as making three national tournament appearances.  A Hall of Fame inductee on the Community College level, he truly had reached the top of his game.  In the December 1994 issue of Basketball Weekly Magazine, Josh was recognized as one of the top junior-college coaches in the country.  He was rated the fourth-best Junior college coach in the country by the publication.

Coach Giles subscribed to the theory of never quitting.  It was his belief that with determination anything could be overcome in the classroom and on the court.  In addition to being a coach, he was an educator, motivator, and strong advocate for young men utilizing education as a way to better their lives.

Former Polk players Lorenzo Williams, Bart Ross, Dexter Hill, Mark Brisker, Dwayne Hackett, Grant Vreeland, and Joe Philon just to name a few, all credit Coach Giles for their success in basketball and individual development.

Coach Giles was married to the former Cynthia Solomon.  They have two children, Joslyn and Brandon. He has a daughter Jennifer Crump from a previous marriage, a granddaughter, Jillian and a godson Tyrohn Crawford.

His spirit lives on.  It lives on in his children Joslyn and Brandon, who were successful student-athletes.  It lives on in family and friends and all those who benefited from his guidance.  And though he’s gone, he will still be of help to another generation of youth in the very fitting form of the Josh Giles Foundation.