Fordham Finalizes Hire of UC Riverside's Mike Magpayo

Fordham University is finalizing a deal to hire Mike Magpayo as its new men's basketball head coach after he successfully led UC Riverside to a 21-13 record and an NIT berth. Magpayo, who made history as the first Division I head coach of Asian descent, was named the Big West Coach of the Year in 2023 and has an overall record of 89-63 in five seasons at Riverside. His hiring comes on the heels of Fordham firing Keith Urgo following disappointing seasons, including a last-place finish in the Atlantic 10 Conference. Magpayo previously served as an assistant coach at Columbia, enhancing his familiarity with the New York City area. He is expected to bring a fresh perspective to a Fordham program that has struggled in recent years, having only two seasons above .500 in the last 18 years. With a strong track record, Magpayo aims to revitalize the Rams and potentially elevate the program's success in the competitive Atlantic 10 landscape.