OFFICIAL: Rob Ehsan hired as UIC head men’s basketball coach
UIC officially announced on Monday the hiring of Rob Ehsan as the Flames’ new head men’s basketball coach. Ehsan is the former head coach at UAB (2016-20) and spent the last three seasons on staff at Stanford.
“Rob is a dynamic and dedicated leader who shares UIC’s values and has a clear vision to advance Flames Basketball in the Missouri Valley Conference,” said AD Michael Lipitz. “He is an elite recruiter with extensive experience in Illinois, nationally, and internationally. He is innovative on the court and invests deeply in his relationships with his players off the court. We are excited to welcome Rob, his wife Lindsey, and their children, Katelyn, Davis, and Ryder, to our Flames Family.”
Ehsan is originally from California, where he played at UC Davis, but got his coaching start as a graduate assistant and later assistant coach under Gary Williams at Maryland (2005-11). He first linked up with Jerod Haase at UAB in 2012 and was an assistant on the 2015 Blazers’ squad that went to the NCAA Tournament.
Elevated to head coach after Haase left for Stanford, Eshan went 76-57 over four seasons with one postseason appearance, the 2019 CBI. He reunited with Haase out West in 2021, working on his Cardinal staff through this past season.
“I could not be more excited to join the Flames Family as the head coach of UIC Men’s Basketball,” Ehsan said. “From our location in the heart of Chicago, the nation’s greatest and most diverse city, to competing in one of the country’s top leagues, The Missouri Valley Conference — all the pieces are in place to take this program to the next level. Our fans are passionate, our students are elite, and we have incredible support from Chancellor Miranda and Director of Athletics Michael Lipitz. My family and I are thrilled to be part of Chicago’s College Team. Fire Up, Flames!”
UIC parted ways with former head coach Luke Yaklich last month after four seasons. The Flames, who joined the Missouri Valley in 2022 after many years in the Horizon League, have finished below .500 in four-straight and have not been to the NCAA Tournament since 2004. They are a combined 8-32 in MVC play since joining the league (4-16 both seasons).
credit to UIC Athletics for the imagee
