California State University, San Bernardino Men's Basketball

Chris Tifft took over as head coach of the California State University San Bernardino men’s basketball program in May 2025. Coach Tifft comes to CSUSB from fellow CCAA school Cal Poly Humboldt, where he served as head coach for the past two seasons. Tifft was named head coach at Cal Poly Humboldt in July of 2023 and quickly put together a roster comprised of 14 newcomers and two returners. That recruiting class included the eventual 2023-24 CCAA Freshman of the Year, Rob Diaz. In Tifft’s second season with the Lumberjacks, Cal Poly Humboldt was one of the most improved Division II programs in the country. Humboldt finished the 2024-25 season with an 18-11 overall record and a 13–9 mark in CCAA play - their best season since 2015–16. The Lumberjacks’ 12-win improvement over the previous season was the third highest in the nation. The 2024-25 team had five players earn All-CCAA selections, including the Lumberjacks second consecutive CCAA Freshman of the Year, Aidan Fowler. Cal Poly Humboldt advanced to the CCAA Tournament and defeated Cal Poly Pomona 70-52 in the first round before falling to Cal State Dominguez Hills in the semifinal. This was Cal Poly Humboldt’s first appearance in the CCAA Semifinals since 2016. The 2024-25 regular season was highlighted by numerous key wins, including a thrilling victory over CCAA champion and Division II national runner-up Dominguez Hills on January 25. The Lumberjacks also completed season sweeps of Cal State San Bernardino and Cal State LA, while also twice defeating Cal Poly Pomona. During the 2024-25 season, the Lumberjacks led the CCAA in field goal percentage (47.6%) and blocks per game (5.0), ranking 10th in Division II in the latter category. Before taking over the helm at Cal Poly Humboldt, Tifft served as assistant coach under Trent Johnson at Cal State Northridge. From 2019-21, Tifft spent two seasons as an assistant coach at Central Michigan University under Keno Davis. In his first season on the sidelines, the Chippewas ranked first in the Mid-American Conference and 21st nationally in scoring (78.6 points per game) and ninth in the nation in steals per game (9.1).   Tifft served as the special assistant to Saint Louis University head coach Travis Ford from 2016-19 where he helped the program capture the Atlantic 10 Tournament Championship and earn an NCAA Tournament appearance in 2019. During his three seasons at SLU, Tifft helped the Billikens pick up marquee wins over such programs as Virginia Tech, Butler, Seton Hall and Oregon State.   Tifft came to Saint Louis in 2016, following four seasons as a member of the men's basketball staff at TCU, including the final two as an assistant coach.   While at TCU, Tifft aided in the Horned Frogs' transition to the Big 12 Conference in 2012-13. That season saw the program record four wins over teams that advanced to postseason play, including a 62-55 decision over No. 5 Kansas, the school's first-ever victory against a top five opponent. Before arriving at TCU in 2012, Tifft spent three seasons as the head coach at New Mexico Junior College in Hobbs, NM. Tifft led the Thunderbirds to 58 wins in his three seasons (2009-12), improving their win total each year. The Thunderbirds concluded the 2011-12 season with a 23-9 record and a second-place finish in the Western Junior College Athletic Conference, the program's best finish in 14 seasons.   Prior to NMJC, Tifft led Lamar Community College (Col.) to a 100-62 record in five seasons as head coach (2004-09). From 2007-09, the Runnin' Lopes posted three consecutive 20-win seasons for the first time since 1969. Tifft was named the 2009 District 9 Coach of the Year after leading the program to its first ever Region IX championship and first ever appearance in the NJCAA National Tournament in Hutchinson, Kan.   Tifft's coaching career began at his alma mater, the University of Nevada. While at Nevada, Tifft worked as an assistant on the staffs of both Pat Foster and Trent Johnson. The Wolf Pack's 1997 squad won 21 games and participated in the postseason NIT, winning a first-round game over Fresno State. During his five years at Nevada, Tifft coached seven All-Conference selections and helped the Wolf Pack transition from the Big West Conference to the WAC.   Tifft began his collegiate playing career as a shooting guard at Three Rivers Community College in Poplar Bluff, Mo. While at TRCC, Tifft helped lead his 1993-94 team to a 33-5 record, a Region XVI championship and an appearance in the NJCAA National Championship game. During his time at Three Rivers, Tifft played for the winningest coach in the history of college basketball across any level, Gene Bess, who has 1,300 career wins.   After leaving Three Rivers, Tifft continued his collegiate playing career at the University of Nevada in Reno. Over two seasons, the Wolf Pack won 34 games and made an appearance in the Big West Tournament Championship game in 1995.   Tifft earned a bachelor’s degree in Geography from the University of Nevada in 1996 and a master’s degree in Secondary Education from the University of Nevada in 1999. Originally from Macomb, Ill., Tifft is married to the former Heather Davis of Carson City, Nev. The couple has a daughter, Kamryn, who is a freshman for the University of Nevada volleyball team.

Dylan Painter joined the California State University San Bernardino men’s basketball program as an assistant coach in August 2025.   Painter comes to CSUSB from Triton College in Illinois, where he spent two seasons as an assistant coach. During his time with the Trojans, he helped guide the program to back-to-back national tournament appearances, including a national runner-up finish and a Sweet Sixteen run in the NJCAA. He played a key role in player development, recruiting, and overall program success.   Before Triton, Painter gained coaching experience at several programs across the country. He spent two years at Lamar Community College in Colorado (2017–19), one season at Southwestern Christian University in Oklahoma City (2019–20), and two years at Glendale College in Los Angeles (2021–23). He began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Northwestern Oklahoma State in 2016–17.   As a player, Painter was a member of the 2016 NAIA national championship team at Mid-America Christian University, where he completed his bachelor’s degree in mathematics. He also holds a master’s degree in sports administration and higher education from Northwestern Oklahoma State and earned a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology from Oregon State University in 2023.

Alex Fodor was named an assistant coach of the CSUSB prior to the start of the 2025-26 season.   Fodor arrived to CSUSB after spending five seasons at Cal State Northridge, where he was an instrumental member of three different staffs and played a pivotal role in team operations, ranging from video coordination to player development. During the 2024-25 campaign, CSUN won 22 games, matching the program's all-time single-season wins record. The Matadors culminated the season by making their first-ever NIT appearance with a game at Stanford.  Fodor also played a role in the development of three All-Big West selections, while helping the Matadors rank in the top 30 nationally in five offensive and defensive categories.    During his time at CSUN, Fodor also coached AAU basketball, as well as working closely with NBA player-development coaches in the summer. Fodor spent two summers working on staff at the NCAA Academy in Memphis, TN, and Rock Hill, SC.   Alex spent his collegiate career at CSUN, where he served as a student manager for Mark Gottfried, Trent Johnson, and Andy Newman. Originally from North Hollywood, Calif., Fodor graduated from CSUN in Spring 2025, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Broadcast Journalism.

Markus Black made the jump from the men's basketball program to the women's basketball program at Cal State San Bernardino in the summer of 2025, serving in the same role of assistant coach. Markus was initially hired as the CSUSB men’s basketball assistant coach in July 2023. Black came to Cal State San Bernardino from the University of Arkansas, where he had been a graduate assistant under head coach Eric Musselman and coach Argenal. “Markus is a rising star in college basketball. He combines SEC-level experience while at Arkansas with winning head coaching experience as a high school coach in Florida. We worked together for the last two seasons, and I was able to witness his dedication, hard work, and loyalty firsthand. He is an elite skill developer who has a great basketball mind in scouting and in-game situations. He is multidimensional as a coach, and his competitiveness will have an immediate impact on our program. We are lucky to have him aid in the development of our student- athletes.” – Head Coach Gus Argenal   Prior to working with the Razorbacks, Black was the head coach at his alma mater Booker High School in Sarasota, Florida from 2016-2021. He was a four-time FACA Coach of the Year (17-19, ’21), FABC 6A Coach of the Year (2018), HT Preps Coach of the Year (2018), and coached the team to a FHSAA Final Four appearance in his second season. Black was also named NAACP Man of Valor Award Recipient in 2018.   Black graduated from Florida A&M University in 2010 with a bachelor's degree in graphic design.  

Brandon Billups was named an assistant men’s basketball coach at California State University San Bernardino in May 2025. Billups comes to CSUSB from Cal Poly Humboldt, where he served as an assistant coach for the past two seasons under Chris Tifft.  Before Humboldt, Billups worked at Cal State Northridge for four of the previous five seasons, serving as a graduate manager and video coordinator. This was the second time that Tifft and Billups worked together as Billups served as a student manager at Texas Christian University while Tifft served as Director of Basketball Operations and later assistant coach. Billups spent the 2020-21 season at Concordia University Irvine as an assistant coach before returning to CSUN. #GoYotes