California State University, Monterey Bay Men's Basketball

  After two highly successful stints at the helm of the Eastern Oregon program, Isaac Williams moved to the Central Coast to become the seventh head coach in the history of the Cal State Monterey Bay men's basketball program. Williams posted a 120–41 record in five seasons leading the Mountaineer program. He averaged 24 wins per season and won at least 19 games in all five campaigns. He leaves Eastern Oregon as the winningest coach in program history in terms of percentage (.745) and the second leading coach in terms of wins. Williams led the Mountaineers to a 24–9 record and the second round of the NAIA National Championship this past season after returning to La Grande following a 3–year stint as the director of basketball operations at Boise State. He helped the Broncos to three 20–win seasons and a trip to the NCAA Tournament during his brief stay in Boise. Eastern Oregon qualified for the NAIA National Championship Tournament in all five of Williams' seasons at the helm. During the 2012–13 campaign, Williams led the Mountaineers to the first No. 1 ranking in program history. They held the top spot for five consecutive weeks en route to an EOU record 28–5 mark. EOU also netted a regular-season conference title and saw Williams earn CCC Coach of the Year honors. Williams began his collegiate coaching career by playing a critical role in resurrecting the Mountaineer men's basketball program. Serving under Ryan Looney (currently the head coach at Point Loma University), they needed just two seasons to turn the program into a perennial contender. The Mountaineers posted just one winning season and a .371 win percentage in the 10 season prior to Looney and Williams taking the helm. EOU notched 95 wins over the next five seasons, tying the school record with 26 wins in 2008. The Mountaineers would go on to tie that mark again in 2011 and break it in 2014 with Williams at the controls.  From 2007-09, EOU won back-to-back conference titles. During Williams' time on staff, the Mountaineers reaped 15 all-conference players, five All–Americans, and 10 NAIA National Scholar–Athlete honorees. During his time as an EOU student–athlete, Williams earned defensive player of the year plaudits in 1998. While finishing his degree in physical education and health, Williams coached freshman and junior varsity boys basketball at La Grande High School. After graduating in 2000, Williams became the head girls basketball coach and a physical education and health teacher at La Grande. In four seasons, he led the Lady Tigers to three appearances in the OSAA 3A State Tournament. In 2002, Williams directed the team to a second place finish en route to being named The Oregonian's 3A State Coach of the Year.  

Former Otter men's guard Akil Reese returns to his alma mater to become the lead assistant coach for the team for the 2025-26 season. Reese, who earned his bachelor's degree in human communications from CSUMB in 2020, was the Otters' team captain as a senior. He most recently served as an assistant coach at Idaho State, from which he earned his master's in sports administration. Reese's coaching career also includes stints with the Los Angeles Lakers and New Orleans Pelicans NBA Summer League teams, and the high school level, earning success at each stop. Returning to Monterey Bay, however, is a special opportunity for Reese. Reese was a two-year member of the Otter men's basketball team from 2018-20, starting eight of 13 games in a pair of injury-shortened campaigns. Now, as a coach, Reese understands the importance of his role and how he can leverage his experience as an Otter student-athlete.