UC Riverside head men’s basketball coach and 2022-23 Big West Coach of the Year, Mike Magpayo, has signed a new five-year deal that will keep him at the helm of the Highlanders’ program through the 2027-28 season. Magpayo’s new contract comes on the heels of UCR’s best season in the program’s Division I history. UC Riverside finished the 2022-23 season with a 22-12 record, which also saw Magpayo become the fastest UCR men’s basketball coach to secure 25 Big West victories.
Leading a staff entirely in its first year together, Magpayo guided UCR to a number of program firsts in its Division I era, including its first 20-win season, first 10-win Big West season, a program-record five Big West Player of the Week awards, and its fourth consecutive winning season. His new contract also speaks to the upward trajectory and stability of the Highlanders men’s basketball program.
“I love leading this team and our coaches and couldn’t be happier with the success and progress we are experiencing as a group,” said Magpayo. “We are building something special here in a program that our entire university, city, and region can be proud of and that means everything.”
The Highlanders have won nine All-Big West awards and five specialty awards in the three years under Magpayo’s direction. UCR has also put its stamp on the college basketball world multiple times with Magpayo at the helm, scoring multiple wins over Power 5, Group of 5, and top-tier mid-major opponents.
“Mike’s leadership, approach, commitment, and dedication to our student-athletes, coaches, and staff’s success and experience has been outstanding and the results speak for themselves,” stated UCR Athletics Director Wesley Mallette. “His involvement and engagement with our university and our community has helped lead the way for our entire athletics program’s resurgence.”
Mallette noted that Magpayo’s extension marks another win in a successful year for the Highlander program.
“This has been a great year for UCR Athletics starting in the fall with our men’s soccer team winning the Big West Championship. The men’s basketball team’s amazing run and top three finish in the Big West this season carried that energy right through the winter. Mike is our second Big West Coach of the Year this year alongside Tim Cupello and that speaks to the type of leadership we have here at UCR.”
The nation’s first-ever Asian-American basketball head coach at the men’s Division I level, Magpayo received a 2022 Rising Coaches Trailblazer Award, which is presented to individuals who have paved the way for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion throughout the coaching and sports industry.
Magpayo also received the Joe B. Hall Award in 2020-21, which is awarded to the top first-year head coach at the men’s Division I level. He also has served as the president of the Asian Coaches Association, whose mission is to support and elevate Asian coaches at all levels.
