Menzies adds three coaches to UMKC men’s basketball staff

In one of Marvin Menzies’ first Division I assistant coaching jobs, first signing new Kansas City Roos men’s basketball head coach Aerick Sanders led San Diego State to a tournament bid from the NCAA in 2002.

Two decades later, Sanders is one of three new additions to Menzies’ staff at UMKC. Menzies announced new assistant coaches Sanders and Michael Bowden on Wednesday, and director of basketball operations Robert Edwards, a Kansas City native, on Wednesday.

A former director of basketball operations in Washington, Bowden moved from video coordinator to basketball operations under Hall of Fame coach Rick Pitino in Louisville. Menzies, who previously worked under Pitino as an assistant coach, said Bowden’s duties will include in-game analysis and strategy, as well as typical player development and recruitment responsibilities.

“I’ve known Mike for several years through my relationship with Rick Pitino,” Menzies said. in a press release. “I am thrilled by this energy, enthusiasm and love of the game. Wearing many hats and working in different capacities in high profile programs prepared him to join the Roo family.

Sanders is reuniting with Menzies for the fourth time and the third as a coach. After playing professionally overseas for six years, he coached alongside Menzies at New Mexico State from 2013-16 and under him at UNLV from 2017-19.

“Aerick was our very first signing at San Diego State, so we have a long-standing relationship,” Menzies said.

Rounding out Menzies’ staff is Edwards, who previously worked in New Mexico for two seasons as a video coordinator. A graduate of Blue Valley West, Edwards is a native of Overland Park and was a graduate assistant to Eric Musselman in Nevada for two seasons before moving to video coordinator.

The three new coaches will join new associate head coach Joe Esposito, who served as Menzies’ first coach on May 9 and also worked for Menzies at UNLV.