Episode 190: Ulric Maligi, Adrian Autry and Joel Justus, Assistant Coach Summit

Nov 17, 2021

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Guest: Ulric Maligi, Adrian Autry and Joel Justus

In this week's coaching conversation, three power five assistant coaches, Ulric Maligi, Joel Justus and Adrian Autry join the Basketball Podcast to discuss roles, responsibilities and being the best assistant basketball coach you can be.

Adrian Autry

Adrian Autry returned to his alma mater Syracuse when he was named an assistant coach prior to the 2011-12 season. In March of 2017, Autry was promoted to associate head coach.

Autry embarked on a coaching career in January 2006 when he was hired as associate head coach at Bishop Ireton Catholic High School (Va.). He became AAU basketball coach with Nova United in April 2006, leading the 14-Under team and then the 15-Under squad. In September 2007, he became assistant basketball coach at Paul VI High School (Va.). He was named an assistant coach on the AAU Triple Threat squad, working with the 17-Under team, in 2008. He moved into the collegiate ranks in 2008 when he was hired by then-head coach Seth Greenburg as director of basketball operations at Virginia Tech. He was later promoted to an assistant coach post.

Autry started 116-of-121 games in four seasons with the Orange, a stretch that began in 1990 and ended in 1994. Autry still ranks fifth in career assists (631) and sixth in career steals (217) at Syracuse.

Autry has strong, deep ties in the Northeast, particularly in the DC area, Canada and Upstate New York. Among the players he’s recruited include Chris McCullough, Tyler Ennis, Jerami Grant and a host of others.

Joel Justus

Joel Justus joined Arizona State's staff in May of 2021 after working the previous seven seasons at Kentucky, including the past five as the assistant coach. He previously worked as the director of analytics and as the special assistant to the head coach.

Justus came to UK after serving as the head coach at Davidson Day High School in Davidson, North Carolina. In both years at the helm, he guided the Patriots to the Elite Eight in the state tournament. Prior to his time at Davidson Day, Justus served as the head boys' basketball coach at Woodberry Forest School in Woodberry, Virginia, from 2008-12. During his time at Woodberry Forest, he guided his team to the Virginia Prep League regular-season championship in 2010 while advancing to the Virginia Prep League championship game in consecutive years, a first in more than two decades.

Justus has spent time in college basketball as an assistant coach at Elon University from 2004-08, where he helped guide the Phoenix to a Northern Division title in 2006 and the Southern Conference championship game in 2008.

While at Kentucky, Justus played a significant role in their recruiting success, recruiting a number of five-star recruits, including Bam Adebayo, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Immanuel Quickley, Keldon Johnson and a host of others.

Ulric Maligi

An assistant coach under Chris Beard at Texas Tech for the previous two seasons, Ulric Maligi enters his first year as Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach at The University of Texas. Maligi brings 14 years of collegiate coaching experience to the Texas staff.

Maligi worked as the national scouting director for John Lucas Enterprises in Houston for one year (2015-16). He spent three seasons (2012-15) as an assistant coach under legendary college and NBA head coach Larry Brown at SMU. Maligi worked as an assistant coach at the University of Houston for two seasons (2010-12). Prior to his time at Houston, Maligi spent three seasons (2007-10) as an assistant coach at Stephen F. Austin.

Maligi accepted the job of assistant coach at UTA for the 2006-07 season when he was 21 years old, making him the youngest Division I assistant coach in the country at the time. He began his coaching career as the head manager during his undergraduate time at Howard University.

Maligi has made his mark as a recruiter at every coaching stop. His strong relationships in Texas have led to success there, but also nationally. Danuel House, Mac McClung and Yanick Moreria are just a few of the top players Maligi has recruited.

Breakdown

1:00 - Important Value to Bring to his Head Coach

3:00 - Attraction of Hiring Someone

6:00 - Mentorship

12:00 - Experience in Overseas

16:00 - Work-Life Balance

21:00 - Their Challenges in Coaching

31:00 - Humility

33:00 - Institutional Knowledge

36:00 - Feedback

39:00 - Five Love Languages

44:00 - Deeper Connections