MALIBU, Calif. — Pepperdine men’s basketball head coach Griff Aldrich has announced the coaching staff for the upcoming 2026-27 season.
The staff includes Associate Head Coach Dan Engelstad and Assistant Coaches Ryan Oliver, Matt Palumbo, Noah Ralby, Chase Coleman, Graham Bousley, and Aleks Abrams. Luke Toburen will oversee the program’s sports performance operations.
Aldrich expressed confidence in the new staff, stating, “We have been fortunate to assemble a tremendous staff with a broad range of coaching experience that spans all levels of the game.” He emphasized the group’s capability to contribute to the development of student-athletes and embody the values of Pepperdine University.
Dan Engelstad, serving as Associate Head Coach, previously spent two seasons at Syracuse University, having a successful six-year tenure at Mount St. Mary’s, where he led the team to an NCAA Tournament appearance in 2021 after winning the Northeast Conference Championship. Engelstad has a substantial coaching background, starting with assistant roles at Mount St. Mary’s and Holy Cross.
Ryan Oliver comes to Pepperdine after four years with the San Antonio Spurs, where he was a Player Development Assistant & Video Coordinator. He has coaching experience at UC Davis, Glendale College, and Clark University. Oliver played college basketball at Siena and has professional experience from two seasons in Ireland.
Matt Palumbo joins the staff after three seasons at Providence College, where he helped develop NBA lottery pick Devin Carter. He was also part of George Mason University’s staff, contributing to a 20-win season.
Noah Ralby comes from Cal Poly Pomona, where he assisted in achieving an 18-11 record and a CCAA Tournament berth. His experience includes positions at the University of Washington and Utah State, leading to NCAA Tournament appearances.
Chase Coleman joins after a season at the U.S. Naval Academy, where he helped the Midshipmen to their first postseason appearance since 1998. Coleman also contributed to the University of Virginia’s staff during two seasons that included an NCAA Tournament visit.
Graham Bousley returns to collegiate coaching after serving as head coach at Cathedral Catholic High School. His previous collegiate experience includes coaching at Longwood University and George Washington University, where he significantly contributed to team success.
Aleks Abrams previously worked as a special assistant at Bowling Green University, helping achieve consecutive winning seasons, and as a Video and Player Development Coaching Associate with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Luke Toburen joins as assistant coach for sports performance, overseeing strength and conditioning. He has served as director of basketball performance at Longwood and has experience from the University of Virginia.
Source: pepperdinewaves.com via Google News.
