Latest news with #Farokhmanesh
CBS News
29-03-2025
- Sport
- CBS News
Colorado State University's newest head coach remembered for iconic NCAA tournament shot against Kansas Jayhawks
Friday morning, Colorado State University formally welcomed Ali Farokhmanesh as the 21st head men's basketball coach of the CSU Rams. Farokhmanesh, who has served as an assistant on the team for several seasons now, takes over for Niko Medved, who was hired by the University of Minnesota . In the last four seasons, Farokhmanesh and the Rams have made three NCAA March Madness tournaments. The current team attended his celebration on Friday to support the university's decision. "I know the work ethic he has, I know the care he has for his players," said Nique Clifford, the NBA-bound forward for the Rams. Athletic Director John Weber said the university conducted a nationwide search for Medved's replacement but found their man already in Fort Collins. Clifford credited Farokhmanesh for being the key reason on the coaching staff that attracted him to transfer to CSU years ago. "He was the sole recruiter I had," Clifford said. "He was a man of his word. He told me he was going to be in the gym with me every day. He was in the gym with me every single day." Clifford said he was confident in Farokhmanesh's ability to not only continue recruiting to Fort Collins but also to develop more NBA-caliber players. The Rams have seen three players make it to the NBA ranks in recent years, all of whom blossomed after staying more than one season in Fort Collins. Those players include David Roddy and Isaiah Stephenson. "The way he is able to develop his players, I think he is the best in the country," Clifford said. While Farokhmanesh credited his family, friends, players and fellow coaches for helping him land the position, many couldn't help but to also recall his success as a player himself. "I think you go back to the shot he had against Kansas in the NCAA tournament," said Darrin Sersland, a Northern Iowa fan. Sersland, wearing a purple Northern Iowa sweater, was referring to the iconic shot Farokhmanesh sank in the final seconds of a game against #1 seed Kansas more than a decade ago. The shot was the dagger, ending Kansas' dreams of a championship that season. "He is a big part of Northern Iowa history, for sure," Sersland said. Surprising Farokhmanesh on his big day was Ben Jacobson, his former head coach in Iowa. He flew to Colorado to attend the announcement and once again celebrate his old guard's success. Jacobson told CBS News Colorado Farokhmanesh's iconic shot was only a shock to the outside world. "It didn't surprise any of us," Jacobson said. "One of the coolest parts for me was none of his teammates or coaches thought twice about it." Jacobson said he was proud of Farokhmanesh for all he has done on and off the court, and said his sincere heart for those he surrounds himself with is what will make him succeed as the Rams head coach. "He really cares about his family. He really cares about the players he coaches. This will never be about him. That is what will make him a great head coach," Jacobson said.
CBS News
27-03-2025
- Sport
- CBS News
Colorado State replaces men's basketball head coach Niko Medved with top assistant Ali Farokhmanesh
Colorado State hired Niko Medved's top assistant to replace him as basketball coach following a quick 24-hour search. Ali Farokhmanesh, 36, was promoted Wednesday evening after Medved left Fort Collins earlier this week to coach at his alma mater, Minnesota. The hire provides some continuity for a program that was 143-85 under Medved and posted three 25-win seasons in the last four years. The Rams reached the NCAA Tournament three times in that span and reached the Round of 32 last weekend before a buzzer-beater by Maryland's Derik Queen denied them a trip to the Sweet 16. Farokhmanesh agreed to a five-year contract worth $4.5 million, according to the university. In a news release announcing the hire, CSU athletic director John Weber said, "I am thrilled that Ali will continue leading our men's basketball program, now as head coach." "Ali has a relentless attitude that he attacks each day with, which was important to us as we looked for the next leader of our men's basketball program," Weber added. "There has been significant interest in the head coach position at Colorado State. After an extremely comprehensive and competitive national search, Ali's continued leadership of this program is important and really excites me." Farokhmanesh spent the last eight years as Medved's assisant, first at Drake in 2017-18 before following him to Fort Collins. The Rams won the Mountain West Conference Tournament and upset Memphis in their NCAA opener this year. A day after that buzzer-beating heartbreaker, Medved announced he was leaving for his hometown school. This time, Farokhmanesh didn't follow him. "I can't wait to continue to build off the championship foundation our players have established and push it to greater heights," Farokhmanesh said in a statement released by the school. During his playing career, Farokhmanesh starred at Northern Iowa and hit winning 3-pointers against UNLV and No. 1-ranked Kansas in the 2010 NCAA Tournament.
USA Today
27-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Former Nebraska basketball assistant named head coach at Colorado State
Former Nebraska basketball assistant named head coach at Colorado State A former member of the Nebraska basketball staff has landed his first college head coaching job. Ali Farokhmanesh has accepted the position of head basketball coach at Colorado State University. Farokhmanesh has been an assistant for the Rams since 2018 and is taking over for Niko Medved after Medved departed for Minnesota. Farokhmanesh was at Nebraska as a graduate assistant from 2014 to 2016. Former Nebraska head coach Tim Miles promoted him to the position of Director of Player Development in 2016, and he served in the job until 2017, when he left the Huskers for Drake. Farokhmanesh is also known for his college basketball playing career. He played at Northern Iowa from 2008 to 2010 and was a member of the UNI team that upset No. 1 Kansas in the 2010 NCAA Tournament. He then played professionally in Europe before retiring in 2014, when he joined the Huskers as a GA.
Associated Press
27-03-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Colorado State tabs top assistant Ali Farokhmanesh to replace Niko Medved
FORT COLLINS, Colo. (AP) — Colorado State hired Niko Medved's top assistant to replace him as basketball coach following a quick 24-hour search. Ali Farokhmanesh, 36, was promoted Wednesday evening after Medved left Fort Collins earlier this week to coach at his alma mater, Minnesota. The hire provides some continuity for a program that was 143-85 under Medved and posted three 25-win seasons in the last four years. The Rams reached the NCAA Touranment three times in that span and reached the Round of 32 last weekend before a buzzer-beater by Maryland's Derik Queen denied them a trip to the Sweet 16. Farokhmanesh agreed to a five-year contract worth $4.5 million, according to the university. In a news release announcing the hire, CSU athletic director John Weber said, 'I am thrilled that Ali will continue leading our men's basketball program, now as head coach.' 'Ali has a relentless attitude that he attacks each day with, which was important to us as we looked for the next leader of our men's basketball program,' Weber added. 'There has been significant interest in the head coach position at Colorado State. After an extremely comprehensive and competitive national search, Ali's continued leadership of this program is important and really excites me.' Farokhmanesh spent the last eight years as Medved's assisant, first at Drake in 2017-18 before following him to Fort Collins. The Rams won the Mountain West Conference Tournament and upset Memphis in their NCAA opener this year. A day after that buzzer-beating heartbreaker, Medved announced he was leaving for his hometown school. This time, Farokhmanesh didn't follow him. 'I can't wait to continue to build off the championship foundation our players have established and push it to greater heights,' Farokhmanesh said in a statement released by the school. During his playing career, Farokhmanesh starred at Northern Iowa and hit winning 3-pointers against UNLV and No. 1-ranked Kansas in the 2010 NCAA Tournament.
Reuters
27-03-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Colorado State tabs assistant Ali Farokhmanesh as new head coach
March 27 - Colorado State promoted lead assistant Ali Farokhmanesh to head coach on Wednesday to replace the departed Niko Medved. Farokhmanesh was on the Rams' staff for all seven seasons of the Medved era. Medved exited for the Minnesota job after Colorado State sustained a last-second setback to Maryland in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The Rams were 143-85 with three NCAA Tournament appearances and an NIT Final Four appearance in those seven seasons. They were 26-10 this season. "Serving under Coach Medved has been a privilege, and I will forever be grateful to him for bringing me to Fort Collins," Farokhmanesh said in a news release. "This university and state are special because of the great people. I am grateful for all who have been so welcoming and supportive of me and my family during our time here and look forward to continuing to grow those bonds in our community. "I can't wait to continue to build off the championship foundation our players have established and push it to greater heights." Farokhmanesh, 36, is a March Madness legend for the ages, stemming from his performance in the 2010 NCAA Tournament. In the first round, he buried a 3-pointer from the left wing with 4.9 seconds left to give Northern Iowa a 69-66 victory over UNLV. Two days later, he played a major role in helping Northern Iowa defeat top-seeded Kansas 69-67 to reach the Sweet 16. He received a pass on a fast break with his team leading by one and stopped on the right flank and sank a dagger 3-pointer with 34 seconds left. Now the guy famous for hitting big shots gets his shot to run a Division I program. "I am thrilled that Ali will continue leading our men's basketball program, now as head coach," Rams athletic director John Weber said in the news release. "Ali has a relentless attitude that he attacks each day with, which was important to us as we looked for the next leader of our men's basketball program. After an extremely comprehensive and competitive national search, Ali's continued leadership of this program is important and really excites me. His ability to connect with people has made him successful throughout his career." Farokhmanesh made 152 3-pointers and averaged 9.7 points over his two seasons at Northern Iowa.
