Idaho State University Men's Basketball

CJ Edwards enters his second season as an Assistant Coach for Idaho State men’s basketball in 2026-27, joining Ryan Looney’s staff after a proven track record of developing high-level talent, west coast recruiting ties, and building efficient, analytics-driven offensive systems. Since arriving in Pocatello, Edwards has played a key role in helping shape one of the most efficient offensive systems during Looney’s tenure. He served as the lead development coach for Idaho State’s first-ever Lou Henson National Player of the Week honoree, while also coordinating special situations, including baseline out-of-bounds execution, late-game strategy, and after-timeout design. Edwards has also contributed to roster evaluation and transfer portal strategy, while ensuring compliance with NCAA regulations and maintaining program integrity. Prior to Idaho State, Edwards served as the head men’s basketball coach at Lane Community College in Eugene, Oregon, where he led the program to a 20-8 record and a .714 winning percentage in his final season (2024-25), along with back-to-back NWAC Tournament appearances. His teams consistently ranked among the top offensive units in the conference, finishing top five in scoring, three-point percentage, and assists per game. During his tenure, Edwards developed multiple all-conference players and recruited the Southern Region Player of the Year, a nationally ranked top-50 prospect. Edwards also spent time as Associate Head Coach and Recruiting Coordinator at Corban University, where he helped guide the program to the 2020 Cascade Conference Championship. In his role, he was instrumental in recruiting and developing all-conference talent, including a Freshman of the Year, while overseeing scouting, analytics integration, and game-planning strategy. At the high school level, Edwards served as Associate Head Coach at Damien High School in La Verne, California, helping lead the program to a 26-9 record and a CIF Southern Section semifinal appearance. He played a significant role in developing nationally recognized talent, including a Top 100 recruit, USC signee, and Gatorade Player of the Year. Across his coaching career, Edwards has emphasized player development, culture building, and academic success. His programs have produced multiple all-conference honorees while also achieving strong academic results, including a program-record team GPA during his time at Corban. Edwards earned his Master’s degree in Coaching and Athletic Administration from Concordia University Irvine. He also holds a bachelor’s degree in Communication and Integrated Media Management from LeTourneau University, and an associate degree in Communications from Santa Barbara City College. CJ is married to his wife Brianna, and they have 3 children, KJ, Kai, and Kali.