PRESTON LAIRD

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Assistant Men's Basketball Coach · New Mexico State

PRESTON LAIRD

Building competitive programs through intentional recruiting, precise roster construction, relentless player development, and a culture that lasts.

Silver Waves Media: top 50 mid-major assistants in 2022, top 100 in 2026.

Leader Educator Competitor Winner
Foundation

My Identity

The process, the standards, and the people we become.

How I Work

I run a clear standard and hold people to it. Recruiting and roster construction are intentional — fit and culture matter as much as talent. Development is planned, measured, and non-negotiable in-season. I communicate directly, protect the room, and stay process-driven when results get loud.

At New Mexico State, the focus is building a roster that competes in Conference USA, developing players who improve on film, and establishing a standard that lasts beyond any one season.

Coaching with intensity
Coaching the standard
Coaching on the sideline
In the moment · Teaching the game
Coaching at NM State
NM State · On the floor

The Process Brings Results

  • Buy into the process or get left behind
  • Chase the best version of yourself every day
  • Wins come from the work, not the scoreboard
  • Chase wins and you lose the standard

Uphold The Standard

  • The standard is non-negotiable
  • Attendance, effort, humility, and conduct are required
  • What we accept off the court shows up on it
  • No shortcuts and no exceptions

Be Who Our Players Need

Develop Professional People

  • Development starts with the person
  • Habits, accountability, and commitment come before skill
  • Expand their game without compromising the team
  • Make them reliable in their role

Execute on Development

  • Every player has a plan and a standard
  • Track the work and measure the progress
  • Maximize time and compete every day
  • In-season development is not optional
Results

Winning

Experience with winning programs

OVC Champions
2024 OVC Regular Season Champions
2015 WAC Champions
2015 WAC Tournament Champions — Orleans Arena
2020 Sun Belt Champions
2020 Sun Belt Regular Season Champions — Little Rock
9
Postseason Appearances
NCAA
6
NCAA Tournaments / Conference Tournament Titles
6
Regular Season Titles
Journey

Career Timeline

Path through college basketball as a player and coach.

2024 – Present
NMSU
Assistant Coach — New Mexico State University

What I run on this staff

At New Mexico State I own recruiting, individual workouts, skill development, and offensive concept install. I help build the staff.

  • Recruiting: I run the board and the relationships.
  • Individual workouts: I run them. Every player has a plan.
  • Skill development: in-season, tied to his role, not optional.
  • Offensive concept install: I teach our actions to the roster.
2019 – 2024
Little Rock
Assistant Coach — University of Arkansas at Little Rock
2024 OVC Regular Season Champions · 2020 Sun Belt Regular Season Champions. Player Development.

Defense: I built, taught, and coached our BLOB defense and our zone. The zone turned our 2023–24 season around. We won the OVC regular season that year.

Offense: I supported the head coach on play calls and actions that attacked coverages. I was not the primary play-caller.

2016 – 2019
UNLV
Director of Ops / Assistant Coach — UNLV
Recruiting, skill development, scouting. First 20-win season in 5 years.
2012 – 2016
NMSU
Graduate Assistant / Director of Ops — New Mexico State
6th Man Club, multiple WAC titles. 3× NCAA Tournament · 1× NIT.
2008 – 2012
Memphis
Student-Athlete & Team Captain — University of Memphis
Walk-on to Team Captain under John Calipari. Multiple CUSA titles. 3× NCAA Tournament · 1× NIT. Summa Cum Laude.

2009: CUSA Regular Season & Tournament Champions · NCAA Sweet Sixteen.

2012: CUSA Regular Season & Tournament Champions · NCAA Tournament.

Memphis C-USA Champions
2012 C-USA Tournament Champions — University of Memphis
Reach

How we build the roster

KK Robinson

KK Robinson

G

Developed at Little Rock. Closed at NMSU.

Stephon Payne

Stephon Payne

F

Portal. Seton Hall.

Mark Lavrenov

Mark Lavrenov

F

Portal. Sacramento State.

NMSU, last two years: Mark Lavrenov, KK Robinson, Adrame Diongue, Jermaine Washington, Stephon Payne, Phoenix Woodson, Elijah Elliott, Jayland Randall.

Little Rock: Ben Coupet Jr., Chris Walker, Daniel Egbuniwe, Johnathan Lawson.

Footprint

Domestic Focus Areas

  • Little Rock, Arkansas
  • Los Angeles, California
  • West Palm Beach, Florida
  • Chicago, Illinois
  • Las Vegas, Nevada
  • Hopkins, South Carolina
  • Memphis, Tennessee
  • Portal / Transfer Market

International

  • Dakar, Senegal
  • Paris, France
Impact

Player Development

Development that shows up on film, in the portal, and in careers that last.

9
All-Conference Players
1
NBA Champion & All-Star
2
Conference Players of the Year
With KK Robinson
With KK Robinson — Ohio Valley First-Team · OVC Champions
With Pascal Siakam
With Pascal Siakam — relationship & development that lasts
Markquis Nowell
Markquis Nowell
Arkansas-Little Rock
Sun Belt First-Team
Ruot Monyyong
Ruot Monyyong
Arkansas-Little Rock
Sun Belt First-Team
Shakur Juiston
Shakur Juiston
UNLV
Mountain West 2nd-Team
Brandon McCoy
Brandon McCoy
UNLV
MW Freshman of the Year · 2nd-Team
Bandja Sy
Bandja Sy
New Mexico State
WAC 2nd-Team
Ian Baker
Ian Baker
New Mexico State
WAC First-Team
Daniel Mullings
Daniel Mullings
New Mexico State
WAC Player of the Year · First-Team
System

Offensive Philosophy

Space, pace, and decision-making — attack with purpose in transition and half court.

Transition — Chase the Space

  • Deep Corners
  • Wide Slots
  • Middle third is for the Trigger Man

½ Court — Create the Space

  • Shooters
  • Quick Random Action
  • Trigger 2 to the Ball
  • Dominoes

Triggers

  • On Ball: Drags, Double Drags, Zooms
  • Off Ball: Pin downs, Touch, Staggers
Team huddle
Teaching in the huddle
Identity

Defensive Philosophy

Connected man principles with the ability to change rhythm and force opponents out of their comfort.

Man-to-Man

On Ball

  • Trace the Ball – Stick Hand
  • Rim Line Protection
  • Closeout Rules by Personnel
  • Switch Like-Sizes

Off Ball

  • Gap & Help
  • On Penetrations: Clog, Sink and Fill

PNR Coverage

  • Ice on the Side
  • Drop in the Middle
  • Peel-Off Switches

Rhythm Changers

Zone

  • Tandem Guards
  • High and Wide Wings
  • Mic Man

Full Court Pressure

  • Man-to-Man – Personnel
  • Diamond
  • 2-2-1 to Zone
Resources

Fundraising

Community engagement & proven fundraising

Fundraising and community engagement
Building the program off the court

Community Engagement & Fundraising

Executive Director, Sixth Man Club — New Mexico State (2014–15)

Relationships

Network

Mentors, education, and family

Key Mentors

Jason Hooten
Jason HootenHead Coach, New Mexico State
John Calipari
John CalipariHead Coach, Arkansas · Hall of Fame
Damon Stoudamire
Damon StoudamireAssistant Coach, LSU
Darrell Walker
Darrell WalkerNBA World Champion · Chicago Bulls 1993
Cody Toppert
Cody ToppertAssistant Coach, Washington Wizards
Marvin Menzies
Marvin MenziesFormer Head Coach, NMSU, UNLV & UMKC
Josh Pastner
Josh PastnerHead Coach, UNLV
Pat Summitt
Pat SummittHall of Fame Head Coach

References available upon request.

Education

Proud husband to Anna and father to Presley Kate and Beckham.

Preston Laird with family
With Anna, Presley Kate, and Beckham
Coaching
PROCESS OVER RESULTS