RIVERSIDE, Calif. — Gus Argenal, one of the most accomplished rising coaches in men's college basketball, has been named the 12th head coach in UC Riverside men's basketball history (ninth in its NCAA Division I era) after an extensive nationwide search led by Katy Young Staudt of TurnkeyZRG, Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Wesley Mallette announced today
Argenal is taking over a UC Riverside's men's basketball program that has been on its most successful five-year stretch in the program's Division I era. This includes a historic 2024-25 season that included the program's first-ever postseason appearance in the program's NCAA Division I era earning a berth in the NIT, two 20-plus win campaigns in the past three years, and the second-best win-loss record in The Big West over the past five years – all under the direction of former head coach, Mike Magpayo.
Argenal will be formally introduced to the UCR community on Tuesday, May 6
th at 12pm in the SRC Arena multipurpose room.
"After an extremely thorough and incredibly competitive national search, we are thrilled to welcome Gus Argenal, his wife Hannah, and his sons Bo and Ace, to UCR," Mallette said. "Gus understands the trajectory our program is on and what it will take to elevate it to the next level. We are very excited for this next chapter of UCR Men's Basketball and look forward to the program's continued rise under his leadership."
With 19 years of collegiate coaching experience, Argenal has achieved success at multiple levels, including being a part of six total NCAA Tournament appearances and 12 NCAA Tournament wins as a head coach and assistant. Overall, he holds a 5-2 record in the NCAA Tournament as a head coach. Argenal has also helped develop nine players currently competing in the NBA or G League, including Orlando Magic's Anthony Black, Philadelphia 76ers' Ricky Council, and Dallas Mavericks' Caleb Martin.
"My family and I are truly excited and honored to join the UC Riverside community," Argenal said. "To have the opportunity to continue coaching in the Inland Empire at an elite academic institution is humbling and inspiring. I am so thankful to Wes Mallette, Chancellor Wilcox, and the search committee for their belief in my leadership and vision for Highlander basketball. I take great pride in our alignment and commitment to raise the bar as we build something special together. Go Highlanders!"
Argenal comes to UCR after an impressive 50-win, two-year stint at Cal State San Bernardino, where he led the Yotes to back-to-back NCAA Division II Tournament appearances, including a trip to the Final Four, and a CCAA regular season title. In his first season at the helm in 2023-24, with a largely rebuilt roster with only five returners, he amassed a program-record 27 victories, CCAA regular season title, West Region Championship, and a trip to the NCAA Division II Final Four — making him the first head coach in CSUSB history to achieve these feats in his debut season. In 2024-25, Argenal continued to showcase his elite recruiting prowess, returning only four players but advancing to the NCAA Tournament to extend the program's streak to five consecutive postseason appearances and fourth straight with an NCAA Tournament victory. Under his leadership, CSUSB also became known for its defensive tenacity and high-paced offense—ranking among the NCAA's top 50 in 11 team categories including rebound margin, three-point percentage defense, and scoring margin.
Before taking the reins at CSUSB, Argenal served as an assistant coach at multiple Division I programs, including Arkansas, Nevada, Cal State Fullerton, Rice, and UC Davis. While an assistant at Nevada and Arkansas (under current USC head coach Eric Mussleman), he helped guide the programs to four NCAA Tournament appearances and seven NCAA Tournament wins, including trips to the Elite Eight and two Sweet 16s. Argenal also firmly established himself as an elite recruiter, including leading Arkansas to national rankings of No. 2 in 2022 and No. 12 in 2023, led by signing top-rated, Nick Smith, Jr. and seven other four and five-star prospects. He also served as head coach at NCAA Division II Cal State East Bay from 2013-17.
As a prep player, he was a three-year starter for legendary head coach Frank Allocco at De La Salle High School in Concord, Calif., leading the Spartans to the Northern California regional finals and being named BVAL Most Valuable Player as a senior. He then starred as a point guard at UC Davis, where he still holds the school's single-game record for assists (13). He earned his bachelor's degree in history from UC Davis in 2004 and a master's degree in education from Arizona State in 2005.
Argenal and his wife, former UC Davis women's basketball standout Hannah Turner, have two sons, Bo, and Ace. He was named one of the 2022 and 2023 Silver Waves Media 50 Most Impactful High Major Assistants and 2025 Silver Waves Elite 75 Future Head Coaches. His brother, Justin, is the head men's basketball coach at NCAA Division II Dominican University.
WHAT THEY ARE SAYING ABOUT GUS:
"So happy for Coach Argenal to be named the head coach at UC Riverside. Gus is an outstanding coach, communicator, and recruiter. He is a proven winner, and he will have great success at UCR. He will bring an exciting style of play and will do an excellent job cultivating the community, both on and off the floor. He is one of the best coaches I have ever been around whether it is in college or even at the NBA level. Big things ahead for the Highlanders!"
- Eric Mussselman, Head Coach, University of Southern California (USC)
"Gus Argenal is a home-run hire for UC Riverside. He has long been on the track to lead a Division I program. No one will outwork him and with his basketball acumen, he without any doubt will lead the Highlanders to great success."
- Sean Farnham, ESPN College Basketball Analyst
"Coach Gus is such a great basketball mind and a great leader. He pushes everyone he works with to be a better player, and more than that, he will make you a better man. He holds his players accountable and while supporting them at the same time. Players lucky enough to play for Gus are getting someone who will coach them and always be in their corner."
- Anthony Black, NBA player for the Orlando Magic and 6th pick in the 2023 NBA Draft
GUS ARGENAL COACHING SNAPSHOT
Hometown:
Lafayette, Calif.
Family:
Wife – Hannah
Sons – Bo and Ace
Education
B.A., History – UC Davis, 2004
M.A., Education – Arizona State, 2005
Coaching Career
2025-Present – UC Riverside (Head Coach)
2023-25 – Cal State San Bernardino (Head Coach)
2001-23 – Arkansas (Assistant Coach)
2019-21 – Cal State Fullerton (Associate Head Coach)
2017-19 – Nevada (Assistant Coach)
2013-17 – Cal State East Bay (Head Coach)
2012-13 – Rice (Assistant Coach)
2011-12 – UC Davis (Assistant Coach)
2008-11 – Chico State (Assistant Coach)
2005-06 – UC Davis (Assistant Coach)
2004-05 – Arizona State (Graduate Assistant)
Coaching Highlights
85 career wins as a collegiate head coach
2024-25 NCAA Division II West Regional First Round
2023-24 NCAA Division II Final Four
2023-24 West Region Champions
2023-24 CCAA Regular Season Champions
Nine NBA/G League players developed
Six NCAA Tournament appearances as head or assistant coach
Seven NCAA Tournament wins at Arkansas and Nevada, including over Kansas, Gonzaga, and Texas
