Utah Valley University Men's Basketball

Todd Okeson is entering his seventh season on the Utah Valley men’s basketball staff and his third as associate head coach under head coach Todd Phillips. Since joining the Wolverines in 2019, Okeson has played a pivotal role in Utah Valley’s rise, helping the program capture three Western Athletic Conference regular-season championships (2020–21, 2022–23, 2024–25) and reach new heights in postseason play. In 2024–25, Okeson helped guide the Wolverines to a 25-9 overall record, a dominant 15-1 mark in WAC play, and the outright WAC regular-season title—the program’s fourth overall and second outright. Utah Valley earned the No. 1 seed in the WAC Tournament and advanced to its first-ever WAC Tournament championship game before earning its third all-time berth to the National Invitation Tournament (NIT). UVU finished the season ranked No. 19 in the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top-25 poll and went undefeated at home (12-0) for the first time in program history. Under Okeson’s leadership, the Wolverines ranked among the nation’s best in multiple statistical categories, including fifth in blocks per game (5.6), 25th in defensive rebounds (27.35), and 41st in total rebounds (38.21). Offensively, UVU led the WAC in field goal percentage (46.8%), assists per game (15.6), and rebound margin (+4.9). UVU’s guards once again thrived under Okeson’s guidance, with Dominick Nelson (WAC Player of the Year), Carter Welling (WAC Defensive Player of the Year), Tanner Toolson (All-WAC Second Team), and Jackson Holcombe (WAC All-Freshman Team) each earning postseason honors. In 2023–24, Okeson helped UVU close strong by winning seven of its final nine games to finish 16-16 overall and tied for fourth in the WAC standings. The Wolverines also went 4-2 against in-state opponents with wins over Weber State, Southern Utah (twice), and Utah Tech. Okeson was instrumental in the Wolverines’ record-setting 2022–23 season, which saw UVU post a 28-9 overall record and 15-3 WAC mark—both program bests. The team reached the semifinals of the National Invitation Tournament (NIT), picking up wins at New Mexico and Colorado and defeating Cincinnati at home. UVU also recorded a nation-best 12 road wins and earned its highest-ever finishes in the NCAA NET (No. 58) and KenPom (No. 64) rankings. In 2021–22, Okeson helped UVU to its first 20-win season since 2019, finishing 20-12. The season prior, he helped engineer a remarkable turnaround in 2020–21, guiding a revamped roster of 16 newcomers to a WAC regular-season championship after being picked seventh in the preseason poll. Before arriving at Utah Valley, Okeson spent the 2018–19 season at the University of Nevada, where he was part of a staff that led the Wolf Pack to a 29-5 record, a third straight Mountain West title, and an NCAA Tournament berth. He also worked with NBA champion JaVale McGee during his time at Nevada. Okeson’s coaching résumé includes roles as director of basketball operations at the University of Hawai‘i (2016–18), assistant coach and interim head coach at Southern Utah (2012–16), and staff positions at Georgia (2009–12) and with the Reno Bighorns of the NBA Development League (2008–09). At Georgia, he helped develop future NBA lottery pick and 2013 SEC Player of the Year Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. A Kansas native, Okeson was the starting point guard for Nevada’s 2003–04 team that won the WAC championship and reached the NCAA Sweet 16. He later played professionally in Europe and in the ABA and USBL before beginning his coaching career. Okeson and his wife, Natalie, have a son, Gaines, and two daughters, Micah and Campbell.  

Andrew May joined the Utah Valley University men’s basketball program as an assistant coach/offensive coordinator in 2026 after establishing himself as one of the top junior college head coaches in the country at Snow College. May arrived at Utah Valley following four seasons as head coach at Snow College, where he compiled a 102-26 overall record and led the Badgers to four consecutive 20-win seasons. Over his final two years at Snow, May guided the program to an impressive 61-7 record. His tenure included a historic 32-2 campaign during the 2024-25 season that saw Snow finish ranked No. 1 nationally for the first time in school history and earn the No. 1 overall seed in the NJCAA National Tournament. The Badgers also posted a perfect 15-0 Scenic West Athletic Conference record during the 2024-25 season. May became the winningest coach in Snow College basketball history during his time leading the program. During his tenure at Snow College, May guided the Badgers to several milestones, including the school’s first undefeated conference season, first No. 1 national ranking, and first No. 1 overall seed at the NJCAA National Tournament. He earned 2025 NJCAA Media National Coach of the Year, Scenic West Athletic Conference Coach of the Year, and West District Coach of the Year honors. Under May’s leadership, Snow College became nationally recognized for its offensive efficiency and player development. The Badgers finished with the No. 1 offensive efficiency rating in junior college basketball during the 2024-25 season and produced multiple NCAA Division I signees, including National Player of the Year Isaac Finlinson. Prior to Snow College, May spent three seasons at Utah Tech as assistant coach and recruiting coordinator, helping guide the Trailblazers through their transition from Division II to Division I and into the Western Athletic Conference. He was part of Utah Tech’s 2020 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) championship team before the program transitioned to Division I and joined the Western Athletic Conference during the 2020-21 season. May reunited with Utah Valley head coach Todd Phillips after previously serving on Phillips’ staff at Salt Lake Community College from 2011-15. During that time, the Bruins won multiple conference championships and advanced to the NJCAA Tournament while developing numerous NCAA Division I players, including future NBA player Gary Payton II. May also spent multiple stints at BYU under head coach Dave Rose, serving as director of basketball operations and student manager during some of the most successful stretches in Cougar basketball history. He was part of BYU’s 2011 Sweet 16 team led by Jimmer Fredette and also helped the Cougars to three straight National Invitation Tournament (NIT) appearances. A native of Mt. Pleasant, Utah, May began his coaching career at Orem High School after playing at Lone Peak High School. He earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in exercise science from BYU. He and his wife, Marissa, are the parents of five children.

Ivory “Trey” Young is in his third season on the Utah Valley men’s basketball staff and his first as an assistant coach. He spent his first two years with the Wolverines as the Director of Player Development before being promoted to assistant coach ahead of the 2025–26 season. Young has played a key role in Utah Valley’s success during his time on staff, helping guide the Wolverines to a combined 41 wins over the past two seasons. In 2024–25, he helped lead UVU to a 25-9 record, a dominant 15-1 mark in WAC play, and the outright WAC regular-season championship—the program’s fourth overall and second outright title. The Wolverines earned the No. 1 seed in the WAC Tournament, advanced to the championship game for the first time in program history, and earned their third-ever berth to the National Invitation Tournament (NIT). UVU also finished the year undefeated at home (12-0) for the first time in program history. In 2023–24, Young helped UVU close the season strong by winning seven of its final nine games to finish 16-16 overall and tied for fourth in the WAC standings. Prior to returning to his alma mater, Young spent two seasons as a graduate assistant at VCU under head coach Mike Rhoades. Before that, he began his coaching career as an assistant coach at St. Thomas High School in Houston, Texas. As a player, the Houston native was a two-year starter for Utah Valley from 2015–17, averaging 7.4 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game over 58 appearances. He helped lead the Wolverines to their first-ever national postseason wins in the College Basketball Invitational (CBI), including a memorable 20-point performance in an 85-79 win at Rice in front of his hometown crowd. Young quickly became a fan favorite during his time in Orem. Following his collegiate career, Young played professionally for two seasons in Australia with the Corio Bay Stingrays and the South Adelaide Panthers. He earned his bachelor’s degree in speech communication from Utah Valley in 2017 and later completed a master’s degree from the Center of Sports Leadership at VCU.

Trevor Stranger is entering his first season as an assistant coach and his fifth season overall on the Utah Valley men’s basketball staff. He previously served as Director of Basketball Operations for two seasons (2023–24, 2024–25) and as a graduate assistant for two seasons (2021–22, 2022–23). Stranger played a key role in Utah Valley’s historic 2024–25 season, helping guide the Wolverines to a 25-9 overall record, a dominant 15-1 mark in WAC play, and the outright WAC regular-season championship—the program’s fourth overall and second outright title. UVU earned the No. 1 seed in the WAC Tournament, advanced to its first-ever championship game, and made its third all-time appearance in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT). The Wolverines also went 12-0 at home for the first time in program history and finished the season ranked No. 19 in the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top-25 poll. In 2023–24, Stranger helped UVU close the season strong by winning seven of its final nine games to finish 16-16 overall. The Wolverines went 11-9 in WAC play, including a late-season surge that featured a Texas road sweep of Tarleton State and Abilene Christian. Utah Valley also went 4-2 against in-state opponents with wins over Weber State, Southern Utah (twice), and Utah Tech. As a graduate assistant in 2022–23, Stranger contributed to the most successful season in program history. Utah Valley finished 28-9 overall and 15-3 in WAC play, won the outright WAC regular-season title, and advanced to the semifinals of the National Invitation Tournament with road wins at New Mexico and Colorado and a home win over Cincinnati. The Wolverines also led the nation in road wins (12) and earned program-best finishes in both the NCAA NET rankings (No. 58) and KenPom ratings (No. 64), finishing the year ranked No. 10 in the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top-25 poll. Before joining Utah Valley, Stranger served as the video coordinator at Boise State during the 2020–21 season, helping the Broncos to a 19-9 overall record and a 14-6 mark in Mountain West Conference play. He also spent the 2019–20 season as an assistant coach at the College of Idaho, helping lead the Yotes to a 31-3 record, an undefeated 20-0 conference campaign, and both the CCC regular-season and tournament championships. The team finished ranked No. 1 in the country before the national tournament was cut short due to COVID-19. A native of Meridian, Idaho, Stranger began his career as a team manager at Boise State, assisting with on-court player development and daily operations. He earned a bachelor’s degree in political science with a minor in business from Boise State.    

Jaden McClanahan is in his first season as a graduate assistant on the Utah Valley men’s basketball staff. A former Wolverine standout, McClanahan returns to Orem after a four-year playing career at UVU from 2020–24. McClanahan appeared in over 110 career games and helped guide Utah Valley to some of the most successful seasons in program history, including two WAC regular-season championships and multiple postseason appearances. As a senior in 2023–24, he played in 32 games with 24 starts, averaging 6.7 points, 3.2 assists, and 2.7 rebounds per game. He reached double figures in scoring 10 times, including a season-high 19 points in a win over Seattle U. He also recorded an 11-point, 13-rebound double-double at Sam Houston and dished out a season-best 11 assists against Stephen F. Austin. McClanahan helped the Wolverines to a 16-16 overall record and an 11-9 WAC mark in 2023–24. UVU won seven of its final nine games, including a Texas road sweep of Tarleton State and Abilene Christian, and posted a 4-2 record against in-state opponents. Despite battling injuries during the 2022–23 campaign, McClanahan appeared in 20 games and contributed to Utah Valley’s record-setting 28-win season. The Wolverines won the outright WAC regular-season championship and advanced to the semifinals of the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) with wins at New Mexico, at Colorado, and vs. Cincinnati. UVU led the nation in road wins (12) and finished the season ranked No. 10 in the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top-25 poll. McClanahan also played a role in Utah Valley’s 2020–21 WAC regular-season title and was part of a senior class that helped elevate the program’s national profile throughout his four years in green and white. Prior to UVU, McClanahan played one season at Independence Community College (Kansas), where he earned Second Team All-KJCCC honors after averaging 9.2 points, 5.2 assists, and 3.4 rebounds per game. A native of Richmond, California, he prepped at Salesian High School, earning league MVP and all-tournament team honors. McClanahan earned his bachelor’s degree in business from Utah Valley and is currently pursuing a master’s degree while beginning his coaching career.

Seena Namdar is entering his second season as a graduate assistant with the Utah Valley men’s basketball program. He joined head coach Todd Phillips’ staff ahead of the 2024–25 season and has been instrumental in supporting the team’s player development and day-to-day operations. In his first season on staff, Namdar helped guide the Wolverines to one of the most successful campaigns in program history. Utah Valley posted a 25-9 overall record, went 15-1 in Western Athletic Conference play, and captured the outright WAC regular-season championship—the program’s fourth all-time and second outright title. UVU earned the No. 1 seed in the WAC Tournament and advanced to its first-ever appearance in the championship game before earning a berth to the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) for the third time in program history. The Wolverines finished the 2024–25 season ranked No. 19 in the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top-25 poll and were dominant both offensively and defensively, leading the WAC in field goal percentage, assists, and rebound margin while ranking fifth nationally in blocks per game. Utah Valley also made history at the UCCU Center, going a perfect 12-0 at home for the first time ever. Namdar came to Utah Valley after spending two seasons at Salt Lake Community College, where he served as a graduate assistant and special assistant to the head coach. During his time at SLCC, he helped the Bruins to two NJCAA national tournament appearances and consistent top-10 national rankings. A native of Sandy, Utah, Namdar played two seasons at Colorado Northwestern Community College, where he earned NJCAA All-Academic First Team honors and the Region 18 Sportsmanship Award. He also served as a trainer for Lace ‘Em Up Basketball and prepped at Alta High School.  

Silas Mills enters his first season as Director of Player Development for Utah Valley University men’s basketball. Mills brings more than 15 years of coaching experience and a decorated 14-year professional playing career to the Wolverines. He has coached at both the college and high school levels, most recently serving as Director of Operations and head coach for BC Elite Basketball Club in Arizona. He also spent two seasons as head coach at American Leadership Academy Queen Creek High School, leading the Patriots to a winning record. His collegiate coaching experience includes assistant coach roles at Salt Lake Community College and Garden City Community College. During his time at SLCC, he helped guide the Bruins to multiple NJCAA Tournament berths, including the program’s first national championship in 2016. As a player, Mills began his career at the University of Utah before transferring to Salt Lake Community College, where he played under legendary head coach Norm Parrish. He was instrumental in helping the Bruins to their first NJCAA Tournament appearance and a top-five national ranking. He later transferred to Utah State University, where he played under head coach Larry Eustachy and helped the Aggies to a Big West Conference championship. Mills went on to enjoy a successful professional career with stops in Greece, Italy, Spain, Argentina, Turkey, and France, in addition to playing for the Yakima Sun Kings of the CBA, where he was named Finals MVP in 2000. His honors include Big West First Team (1995-96), All-CBA First Team (2000), and CBA Playoff MVP. Mills holds an associate degree from Lassen College and a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies from Utah State University. He and his wife live in Arizona and have two daughters.

Jackson Kelly was named Head Strength and Conditioning Coach for Utah Valley University men’s basketball ahead of the 2025–26 season. Kelly comes to UVU after spending the 2024–25 season at Winthrop University, where he worked with the men’s basketball program that finished 23–11 overall and advanced to the Big South Conference Championship game. Along with men’s basketball, he also trained student-athletes from Winthrop’s women’s volleyball, women’s lacrosse, men’s soccer, men’s and women’s golf, and cross country programs. Prior to his time at Winthrop, Kelly served as a strength and conditioning intern with Clemson University men’s and women’s basketball during the 2023–24 season. The Tigers’ men’s team posted a 24–12 record and reached the NCAA Tournament’s Elite Eight. A native of Charleston, South Carolina, Kelly earned his bachelor’s degree in exercise science from the College of Charleston. He is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) through the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in sports and fitness administration from Winthrop University.