Coaches Division

Assistant Coach

Jesse Childs brings a strong blend of professional experience, player development expertise, and leadership to the Sacramento State coaching staff. A Phoenix native by way of Boise, Idaho, Childs most recently served as an assistant coach with the Austin Spurs, the NBA G-League affiliate of the San Antonio Spurs, where he spent two seasons helping young pros transition to the next level.

A true student of the game, Childs has built his reputation on player development, mentorship, and culture-building. His coaching style emphasizes accountability, basketball IQ, and personal growth—making him a trusted mentor for athletes navigating the journey to college and professional basketball.

With roots in both high-level coaching and real-world player guidance, Childs offers a modern, holistic approach to the game—focused not just on wins, but on shaping well-rounded competitors and leaders.

Sacramento State Assistant Coach

Jason Fraser joins Sacramento State for the 2025–26 season, bringing over a decade of coaching experience across the NBA, G-League, Division I, AAU, and high school levels. A former McDonald’s All-American and Villanova standout, Fraser is widely respected for his leadership, player development expertise, and deep understanding of the game.

Fraser’s coaching career includes two seasons with the Phoenix Suns (2015–17) and a season with the Austin Spurs (2014–15), where he helped develop future NBA talent such as Devin Booker, Wendell Carter Jr., and JaMychal Green. He later returned to his alma mater, Villanova, as Director of Student-Athlete Development during the 2013–14 season.

Beyond the college and pro levels, Fraser has made a significant impact in education and youth development. He served as Dean of Students and Athletics Director at Sun Valley Academy, and was previously the associate head coach at Amityville High School, where he starred as a player. At Skyline Prep in Phoenix, he earned two Canyon Athletic Association Coach of the Year awards.

Assistant Coach - Southern Utah University

Tennessee Owens, son of Casey Owens, (NBA Assistant, G League, and Overseas HC) is a hard-working, high-level basketball mind with experience at every level of elite basketball. As a player and coach, he has contributed to winning at every stop, including a high school state championship, multiple NCAA tournament appearances at NMSU, and FIBA finals.

Currently serving as the Assistant Coach for Southern Utah Men's Basketball, he has helped install an offense that ranked in the top 150 and played a key role in player development and operations.

Assistant Coach - Cleveland State

Louis Rowe Louis Rowe brings nearly 20 years of coaching experience to Cleveland State, joining the Vikings after back-to-back NCAA Tournament runs as an assistant coach at the University of Oregon. With a proven track record at both the Power Four level and as a Division I head coach, Rowe adds veteran leadership, deep basketball knowledge, and a strong player-first approach to Coach Daniyal Robinson’s staff.

Prior to Oregon, Rowe served as an assistant coach at South Florida and spent four seasons as the head coach at his alma mater, James Madison University, where he guided the Dukes and developed one of the youngest rosters in the nation. His coaching journey also includes impactful stops at Bowling Green, Florida International, and Rider—consistently helping programs reach postseason success and elevate player development.

Rowe’s experience, leadership, and commitment to growth—on and off the court—make him an invaluable part of the Cleveland State basketball program.

Assistant Coach - Arkansas Little Rock

Charles Thomas joins Little Rock after a season at Saint Louis University and over a decade working with Keith Dambrot at Duquesne and Akron, where he helped secure seven postseason appearances, including two NCAA Tournament berths.

Before coaching, Thomas had a 15-year professional playing career, starting with the Detroit Pistons and later playing in the CBA and internationally. A 2000 graduate of Eastern Michigan, Thomas led his team to a MAC championship and an NCAA Sweet 16 appearance, earning multiple honors, including induction into the Eastern Michigan Hall of Fame and Ring of Honor.

Assistant Coach - USC Basketball

Veteran coach and former WNBA standout Nikki Blue joins the USC women’s basketball staff for the 2025–26 season, bringing with her a wealth of experience from both the professional and collegiate ranks. A Southern California native and UCLA alumna, Blue returns to Los Angeles to serve under Head Coach Lindsay Gottlieb, helping lead a USC program fresh off a Big Ten title and back-to-back Elite Eight appearances.

Blue arrives at USC following a coaching stint with the Los Angeles Sparks, preceded by her role as interim head coach of the Phoenix Mercury during the 2023 WNBA season. She began her WNBA coaching career in 2022 with the Mercury and spent 16 prior seasons coaching at the Division I level, including stops at UNLV, Cal State Bakersfield, Grand Canyon, and Arizona State.

As a collegiate player at UCLA, Blue was a four-time All-Pac-10 First Team selection, a WBCA All-American, and a finalist for the Nancy Lieberman Point Guard of the Year Award. She went on to play four seasons in the WNBA with the Washington Mystics and New York Liberty, also competing professionally in Turkey and Greece.

Graduate Assistant - GCU

Isaac Demosthenes hailing from Illinois, was the head player development manager for Grand Canyon University (GCU), but currently  is in his first season as a graduate assistant for GCU men's basketball in 2025-26.

As a seasoned NBA and Overseas Trainer, Isaac Demosthenes has worked with prominent athletes such as Cam Johnson , Jericho Sims, Tyrese Martin, Jamal Franklin, Jalen Bridges, Keeshawn Barthelemy, and Langston Love all honing their skills and preparing them for high-level competition.

A former WAC Champion and an avid basketball fanatic, Isaac's passion for the game is evident in his dedication to developing players and fostering their growth both on and off the court.

Assistant Coach - Pepperdine University

Joshua Calbert joins Pepperdine with 14+ years of coaching experience across college, high school, and AAU basketball. A Bay Area native, he started at Deer Valley High, helping develop 4 Division I players, including McDonald’s All-American Marcus Lee.

He later coached at Salesian, where his team reached #3 in the nation. Calbert's college coaching career began at NIU, focusing on skill development, followed by a recruiting role at South Dakota, and most recently, contributing to an OVC Championship at Little Rock.

Player Development Coach

Zerrion Payton brings a high-level pedigree and a proven track record in player development to the Sacramento State coaching staff. Entering his sixth year in coaching, Payton most recently served as the Director of Player Development at the University of Hawai‘i, where he helped guide the program’s player growth on and off the court.

Before his time at Hawai‘i, Payton made his mark at the grassroots level, coaching at two of the nation’s premier high school programs: AZ Compass Prep and Prolific Prep. He also served as a Head Coach on the Adidas 3SSB Circuit, competing at the highest level of AAU basketball and helping elite prospects transition to the college game.

Widely respected for his ability to develop talent, Coach Zerrion has worked with two McDonald’s All-Americans and helped over 40 athletes earn Division I scholarships—a testament to his eye for talent, relationship-building, and skill development expertise.

A standout player in his own right, Payton competed at every level of the game, earning All-Conference honors throughout his career. His coaching philosophy is rooted in experience, energy, and accountability—traits that reflect his family’s basketball legacy as the nephew of NBA Hall of Famer Gary Payton.

Graduate Assistant - GCU

Trey Miles is currently in his fifth season with the Grand Canyon University men's basketball program for the 2025-26 season. This season marks his third as a Graduate Assistant, following two years of dedicated service as a student manager at GCU.

In his new role, Miles is actively engaged in a wide range of responsibilities, including video operations, practice sessions, opponent scouting, and player workouts.

He successfully completed his Bachelor's degree in Business Administration at GCU in August 2023 and completed his MBA in May 2025.