New Fordham head basketball coach Mike Magpayo is currently putting his staff in place for his first season in the Bronx after coming over from UC-Riverside. One of his latest additions includes a former NBA player.
Mike Magpayo Adds Ex-NBA Player Derrick Phelps to Fordham Staff
According to college basketball insider Adam Zagoria, Mike Magpayo has added Derrick Phelps to his coaching staff.
New @FordhamMBB coach Mike Magpayo has added Derrick Phelps to his staff, per source
— Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) April 9, 2025
Phelps played professionally in both the NBA and in countries such as Germany, Russia, and France. While in the NBA, he played for the Sacramento Kings during the 1995 season.
A two-time German League champion with Alba Berlin, he also earned German League MVP honors in 2001. The former national champion at North Carolina will bring a great presence to the Rams’ locker room.
Having a former player and a successful player at that should help the team reach new heights in what will be the start of a new era for the college basketball program.
Fordham’s 2025-2026 Aspirations
The Rams are coming off a tumultuous 2024-2025 season that saw them win just 12 games overall and three in the conference.
This school has been eager to see good basketball for years.
Aside from their 25-win season a couple of years ago, the team has not had another season with 20-plus wins since the 1990-1991 season.
It will be up to Magpayo to change the game.
Coming over from UC-Riverside as the first-ever Division I head basketball coach with full Asian heritage, the Los Angeles native will look to turn the tide at the school.
RELATED: Fordham Hires UC Riverside’s Mike Magpayo as New Head Coach
The former Big West Coach of the Year won 20-plus games in two of the past three seasons and guided the team to the NIT this past season.
He is a rising coach looking to make a statement in a conference that has made its name in college basketball for years.
If he could post a winning record in year one, that would be a great accomplishment for the 45-year-old.
Fordham fans shouldn’t necessarily have any exceptions, but they should watch to see how the squad progresses as this offseason moves along and as next season approaches.
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