| 6/17/2024 | Men’s Basketball BOCA RATON, Fla. – Florida Atlantic head men’s basketball coach John Jakus has rounded out his inaugural staff with the hiring of Aditya Malhotra as assistant coach. Malhotra joins the 2024-25 Owls’ staff in after two seasons in the NBA with the Phoenix Suns, first as Manager of Amateur Scouting from July 2022 to May 2023 before being named the Manager of Basketball Quality Control in May of ’23. Jakus and Malhotra’s coaching relationship dates back to 2017, where the two served on the Baylor staff. Joining the Bears as a graduate assistant for the 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons, he became special assistant to the head coach for the 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons. His next two seasons were as associate Director of Operations & Recruiting before being promoted to Director of Operations prior to the 2019-20 season.In his eight seasons with the program, Malhotra helped coach Baylor to the 2021 National Championship and Big 12 title, six NCAA Tournament berths, including three Sweet 16 appearances and seven consecutive postseason appearances. BU posted a combined 192-77 record during his eight seasons on staff, averaging 24 wins per season. Over the course of his two years as director of basketball operations, Baylor won 90 percent of its games with a combined 54-6 record, including 29-4 in Big 12 play and 17-3 against ranked opponents. The Bears were expected to be a No. 1 seed in the 2020 NCAA Tournament before the season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but Baylor returned the following season and earned that top spot. BU then rolled off six consecutive wins to claim the first National Championship in program history in 2021, along with winning the Big 12 championship for its first conference title in 71 years. QUOTABLE Head Coach John Jakus “AD is one of the smartest basketball people that I have ever been with. We have had the privilege of coaching together on AIA tours internationally at Baylor for a national championship and now at Florida Atlantic as friends. In the last two years, he has done a great job for the Phoenix Suns, and I know that it was his dream to reach the NBA. The fact that he is giving up that dream to come back to college basketball for our players and staff is a complete honor for our program. His wife Megan and his two kids are unbelievably special people, and we can’t wait to have them part of our community full time.” Assistant Coach Aditya Malhotra “I am blessed to join John Jakus at FAU basketball and to have the opportunity to be part of his dynamic coaching staff. From serving as graduate assistants together to winning a national championship, Coach Jakus has always been someone I have wanted to help build a program with. I look forward to my wife Megan and my children Miloh and Aden becoming part of the FAU family and joining a program that values excellence and innovation on and off the court.” SEASON TICKETS 2023-24 season ticket holders can renew today by clicking HERE or calling the ticket office at 1-866-FAU-OWLS. FOLLOW THE OWLS To stay up to date on all things FAU men’s basketball, follow the Owls on social media @FAUMBB. |
