Four UC Irvine Assistant Coaches Named Among Nation's Most Impactful
October 19, 2026 | Men's Basketball
Ton, Smith, Booker and Scully recognized on Silver Waves Media's 2026 Top/Most Impactful Mid-Major Assistant Coaches list
IRVINE, Calif. – Four UC Irvine men's basketball assistant coaches have been named to the 2026 Silver Waves Media Top/Most Impactful Mid-Major Assistant Coaches list, the organization announced Monday.
Ali Ton, Julius Smith, Nick Booker and Patrick Scully earned national recognition for their contributions to the Anteater program and their impact on college basketball. UC Irvine was one of the most represented programs in the country with four selections, highlighting the strength and depth of the coaching staff under head coach Russell Turner.
The annual list recognizes assistant coaches who have made significant contributions to their programs through player development, recruiting, leadership and their overall impact on the game. The recognition has also served as a springboard for emerging coaching talent, with more than 40 honorees over the past four years advancing to head coaching positions.
The four Anteater assistants have helped maintain UC Irvine's tradition of success as one of the Big West's premier programs. The 'Eaters enter the 2026-27 campaign having captured three Big West regular-season championships in the last four years and made four consecutive postseason appearances, highlighted by a run to the NIT championship game in 2025. UC Irvine was also selected as the favorite in the 2026-27 Big West Preseason Coaches' Poll.
Under Turner's leadership, UC Irvine has established a culture of sustained excellence built on player development, defensive intensity and a commitment to success on and off the court. Ton, Smith, Booker and Scully play integral roles in that foundation, contributing to the daily development of student-athletes, game preparation, recruiting and the continued growth of the program.
The 2026 Silver Waves Media Top/Most Impactful Mid-Major Assistant Coaches list was released Monday, Oct. 19.
