May 17, 2022

KSU's Maligi lauded as one of nation’s top sssistant coaches

Posted May 17, 2022 3:05 AM
Image courtesy&nbsp;<a href="http://k-statesports.com">k-statesports.com</a>
Image courtesy k-statesports.com

K-State Sports

MANHATTAN – Kansas State associate head coach Ulric Maligi was recently lauded as one of the nation’s top men’s basketball assistant coaches, as he was included on a list of the “Most Impactful High Major Assistant Coaches in Division I Basketball” by Silver Waves Media.

The honor was another in a long list for Maligi, who was hired as the Wildcats’ associate head coach on April 1. He was recognized by both ESPN and The Athletic on their “40 under 40” lists for the top individuals in college basketball. He was listed 14th on The Athletic’s 40 under 40” list by Seth Davis which acknowledged the rising stars under the age of 40 in November 2021, while a group of ESPN writers selected him 13th on their list of top coaches under the age of 40 in May 2020.

“When I began the process of building my staff, Ulric was at top of my list,” said first-year head coach Jerome Tang upon hiring Maligi. “He is not only one of the best recruiters that I have ever been around, but he is one of the top basketball minds in the country, having learned from some of the best in the business. In addition to his talents as a coach, he is also an outstanding husband and father.”

An assistant coach with 15 years of experience and deep ties to the state of Texas, Maligi came to K-State after a three-year stint with head coach Chris Beard at both Texas Tech (2019-21) and Texas (2021-22). In addition to his time with the Red Raiders and Longhorns, he has also been an assistant at UT-Arlington (2006-07), Stephen F. Austin (2007-10), Houston (2010-12), SMU (2012-15) and Texas A&M (2016-19).

All told, Maligi has been a part of coaching staffs that have won 300 games – averaging 20 wins per season in his coaching career – and advanced to the postseason on eight occasions, including five NCAA Tournaments (2009, 2015, 2018, 2021, 2022). He has also helped teams register eight 20-win seasons, including at least one at five of his seven stops, and collect five conference titles. In addition to his coaching experience, he also spent a year (2015-16) as the National Scouting Director for John Lucas Enterprises based in Houston.

Maligi has coached and/or recruited 18 NBA players in his coaching career, including Robert Williams III (Boston Celtics/Texas A&M), Danuel House, Jr. (Utah Jazz/Texas A&M), Shake Milton (Philadelphia 76ers/SMU) and Jahmi’us Ramsey (Sacramento Kings/Texas Tech). In all, he has also helped sign 20 prospects ranked among the top 100 recruits in the country.

In his short time at K-State, Maligi has already helped attract three highly regarded transfers in Cam Carter (Donaldsonville, La./Oak Hill Academy/Mississippi State)Jerrell Colbert (Houston, Texas/Houston [Tenn.]/LSU) and Nae’Qwan Tomlin (New York, N.Y./Urban Assembly School/Chipola [Fla.] College) as well as high school standouts Dorian Finister (New Orleans, La./Carver) and Taj Manning (Grandview, Mo./La Lumiere [Ind.]).

Maligi is a part of a strong inaugural coaching staff for Tang at K-State, which includes assistant coach Jareem Dowling, Chief of Staff Marco Borne, Director of Player Development Austin Carpenter, strength coach Phil Baier, Director of Video Operations Anthony Winchester and Director of Strategies Kevin Sutton.