Derek Glasser, the offensive coordinator of Rice University’s high-scoring men’s basketball team, has been hired by UC Santa Barbara as an assistant coach.
He replaces John Rillie, who recently signed a contract to coach the Perth Wildcats of Australia’s National Basketball League.
“Derek is one of the bright, young coaches in college basketball,” UCSB head coach Joe Pasternack said. “We did our research in trying to replace coach Rillie and, everywhere I went, it kept coming back that he was a total package.”
Glasser played point guard alongside NBA All-Star James Harden at both Artesia High School and Arizona State. Although he arrived in Tempe as a walk-on, he set a school record for games played (131, since surpassed by two others). He also won both All-Pac-12 and Pac-12 All-Tournament honors. He served as one of ASU’s team captains for three straight seasons.
He’s the only Sun Devil to ever surpass both 1,000 points and 500 assists for his career. He graduated in 2010 with a school-record 551 assists — 85 more than the next closest ASU player. His career free-throw percentage of 83.8% ranks second all-time.
“He’s had to grind and overachieve,” Pasternack pointed out. “He became a four-year starter and then broke the school record. It’s a pretty amazing story.”
Glasser played professionally in Israel for Maccabi Haifa and in Estonia for Kalev Cramo before returning to the United States to serve as an assistant coach at Caltech.
Rice hired him in the 2018-19 season to serve as a video coordinator. He was promoted to assistant coach before the 2020-21 season.
“He loves to recruit,” Pasternack observed. “He obviously has a lot of West Coast ties, having played at Artesia High School with James Harden, as well as at Arizona State.”
Rice compiled a 31-30 record during Glasser’s two seasons as an assistant coach. The Owls averaged 73.9 points during his first season and 74.1% last year.
“I think our players are going to really like him,” Pasternack said. “He’s going to make our players better, and that’s what you really want, No. 1.
“He forms great relationships with the student-athletes, and is great with skill work and in the development of the guys. He’s going to be a really great addition to our staff.”