Marvin Menzies became the 8th full-time head coach in Kansas City Men’s Basketball history on April 26, 20122.
Menzies, 60, came back to Las Vegas after nine years as the head coach at New Mexico State. After completing his first year leading the Runnin’ Rebel program, he brought in a recruiting class for the 2017-18 season that has been ranked as high as No. 12 in the country and includes McDonald’s High School All-American Brandon McCoy and National Junior College Player of the Year Shakur Juiston.
The 2017-18 squad spent the entire summer together in Las Vegas, something his first UNLV team was unable to do, and achieved a 3.24 team grade point average during that time. Under his direction, New Mexico State was extremely successful making appearances in the postseason each of his last five seasons in Las Cruces, and six of his last seven.
Menzies led the Aggies to their fifth straight 20-win season in 2015-16, and seventh in eight years, as they went 23-11 overall and 13-1 in conference play. When Menzies left NMSU, the Aggies had won 35 straight home conference games, which was the second-longest such streak in the nation.
New Mexico State won its second straight outright regular-season Western Athletic Conference Championship in his final season in Las Cruces, which led to a berth in the NIT.
From 2012-15, Menzies led his team to four straight WAC Tournament titles and NCAA Tournament berths. His team also won the conference tournament crown and appeared in the NCAA Tournament in 2010. He led the Aggies to the outright regular-season conference title in 2014-15 and a co-championship in 2008.
Menzies owns a career record of 209-132 (.613) over 10 seasons as a Division I head coach and he has gone 107-51 (.677) in conference play.
In 2015-16, NMSU ranked 10th the nation in scoring defense (63.1 ppg), 11th in field-goal percentage defense (39.2 percent, the school’s best since the 1960-61 season) and fifth in rebound margin (+9.8 per game).
Menzies left New Mexico State as the third-winningest coach in school history, ranking only behind Hall of Famer Lou Henson (289-152, 16 seasons) and Neil McCarthy (229-114, 12 seasons). He was the fastest to 198 wins among the trio (McCarthy 193 after nine seasons, Henson 173 after nine seasons).
His 198 wins was also the most all-time while a member of the WAC. With 103 wins in conference play, he left the league seventh in all-time conference wins and ranked third in winning percentage for conference games at 73.6 percent.
Menzies was the Aggies’ bench boss in five of their WAC-record six tournament championships, and won more conference tournaments than any other New Mexico State coach. His five total NCAA appearances are eclipsed only by the seven of Henson’s NMSU squads. His four consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances were one short of equaling the longest stretch by the Aggies to the Big Dance.
Menzies coached a pair of AP All-Americans at New Mexico State in Pascal Siakam and Daniel Mullings. Siakam, the No. 27 overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft and the first first-rounder under Menzies, was an honorable mention selection after the 2015-16 season, while Mullings was selected honorable mention following the 2013-14 campaign.
Menzies coached Aggies to the All-WAC team 20 times while in Las Cruces, with two WAC Players of the Year, two WAC Freshmen of the Year, five players on the WAC All-Newcomer Team and seven selections to the WAC All-Defensive Team.
In November 2014, Forbes named Menzies as one of the Top 25 College Basketball Coaches for the Money, recognizing his winning ways.
Menzies’ 2015-16 Aggies were a young squad with only two starters returning and no senior on the team, but found a way to another 20-win season and their conference mark tied for the sixth-best in the history of the league and equaled the 2014-15 team with the best conference record in school history.
His team posted a nine-game win streak during the season (matching the 14th-longest in school history) and also had a 12-game win streak against WAC opponents.
Siakam was the unanimous choice for WAC Player of the Year and joined Ian Baker as first team All-WAC. The duo was also named to the WAC All-Defensive Team and to the WAC All-Tournament Team.
Siakam, who became the school’s seventh All-American, was also selected all-district by the NABC and the USBWA after leading the WAC in scoring (20.3 ppg), rebounding (11.6 rpg) and blocked shots (2.24 bpg). He scored the second-most points in a season in school history (690) and had the third-most rebounds in Aggie history (396). Siakam was also selected the WAC Player of the Week an unprecedented five times.
Baker, a junior and the upperclassman on the team, moved into seventh on all three career lists for 3-point field goals, hitting 137-of-337 for a 40.7 percentage.
After winning the WAC’s regular-season championship, the Aggies fell on a buzzer-beating 3-pointer in the WAC Tournament title game and advanced to the National Invitation Tournament for the first time since 2000. New Mexico State lost a heartbreaking 58-56 decision at Saint Mary’s in first round play on two free throws with two seconds to play.
Menzies’ 2014-15 Aggies were hit hard by the injury bug to start the year, but rebounded during the season to post a 23-11 season, a 13-1 WAC record and a WAC Championship. It was the fourth straight 20-win season for New Mexico State. The 13-1 (.928) WAC mark was the best conference record in school history and tied for the sixth-best seasonal record in the history of the league.
Total domination of the conference during the 2014-15 season earned Menzies the WAC’s Don Haskins Coach of the Year Award.
The Aggies tallied 13 straight victories (Jan. 22 to March 14) in the run to the title, the third-longest winning streak in program history and the longest win streak in the Menzies era. New Mexico State won 19 of its last 22 games in 2014-15.
Defense was the calling card of the team, as New Mexico State led the WAC and ranked 21st nationally by allowing only 59.8 points a game. The Aggies held 12 opponents to less than 50 points, with three opponents held to under 40 points. Only nine opponents had been held that low since 1950.
Four Aggies were named to the All-WAC team, with Mullings and Siakam named first team. Tshilidzi Nephawe and Remi Barry were chosen second team. Siakam was the Freshman of the Year and named to the All-Newcomer and All-Defensive Teams. Mullings was also on the All-Defensive Team. Nephawe earned MVP honors at the WAC Tournament and was joined on the All-Tournament Team by Barry after the Aggies downed Seattle 80-61 in the tourney final. The Aggies earned their fourth straight NCAA Tournament appearance, but lost to No. 10/11 Kansas in Omaha, Neb.
Menzies’ senior laden squad set records as Mullings and Nephawe teamed for four New Mexico State career highs. Mullings posted career marks in steals (249), free throws (463) and free throw attempts (463), while Nephawe set a new mark for career games played (136).
The 2013-14 season saw the Aggies become the first men’s team to ever win the WAC Tournament three consecutive times on their way to a 26-10 overall record. In the Aggies third straight NCAA Tournament appearance, New Mexico State suffered a heartbreaking 73-69 overtime loss to San Diego State.
Led by Mullings, the WAC Player of the Year and first-team All-WAC performer, and Nephawe, named second team All-WAC, the Aggies battled to get to the WAC title game where they handed Idaho a 77-55 defeat. Sim Bhullar was named tournament MVP for the second straight season, becoming just the second player to take that award in consecutive seasons. The Aggies’ 20th NCAA Tournament appearance saw No. 13 Saint Louis take a 64-44 win.
Menzies and New Mexico State picked up their second consecutive WAC Tournament Championship and NCAA appearance in 2012-13 on the way to a 24-11 record, as he coached three to All-WAC status: Bandja Sy (first team), Mullings (second team), Bhullar (third team and newcomer), who was also WAC Freshman of the Year. Bhullar earned WAC Tournament MVP honors, and he was the first freshman to garner the honor since Shawn Bradley in 1991. Mullings was also a member of the WAC All-Tournament Team.
The Aggies broke a pair of school records in 2012-13; blocked shots in a season (193) and field-goal percentage in a game (68.6 percent vs. UTSA). New Mexico State also tied a program record with 12 blocked shots at UTSA. The Aggie defense was tough all season and held teams to 60 points or less 16 times in 2012-13.
Menzies piloted that Aggies to 12 straight wins (Jan. 3 to Feb. 16). It was the longest streak since the 2006-07 season. New Mexico State finished the season winning 18 of 21 games. Menzies directed New Mexico State to its second conference tournament title in three years in 2012 with a 25-point win over Louisiana Tech, 82-57, in the championship game. The Aggies also made their 19th NCAA Tournament appearance in school history and faced No. 17 Indiana.
After a 79-66 loss to the Hoosiers, the Aggies finished the season with a 26-10 overall record. The 26 wins were the most since the 1992-93 season, and it was the third 20-win season of Menzies’ tenure.
Menzies recorded his 100th career victory in the quarterfinals of the 2012 WAC Tournament. The Aggies had four all-conference selections in 2012; Wendell McKines (first team), Hernst Laroche (second team), Hamidu Rahman (honorable mention) and Mullings (newcomer).
The 2011-12 season was very successful for the Aggies. For the first time in school history, New Mexico State had three 1,000-point scorers in the same season (McKines, Laroche and Rahman). McKines also became just the second player in program history with 1,000-career points and 1,000-career rebounds. He was only the second active player in the NCAA to achieve the feat in 2011-12 and 12th player in WAC history.
The Aggies started the season with a 4-0 record, which was only the third 4-0 start since 1992-93. New Mexico State posted a pair of rivalry wins in the stretch including a 62-53 win over New Mexico (Nov. 16) in the Pit for the first time since Dec. 15, 2002. In WAC play, New Mexico State defeated Utah State, 80-69, (Feb. 11) for the first time in Logan, Utah, since Feb. 11, 2006.
Menzies also watched Mullings, as a freshman, record a triple-double against Hawai’i (Feb. 23). Mullings’ performance was only the third triple-double in Aggie history as he had 28 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists.
The Crimson and White fought through injuries to finish third in the WAC (9-7) with a 16-17 overall record in 2010-11. The Aggies set a school record with a 12-game WAC home win streak that dated back to the 2009-10 season. Menzies won his 75th career game in 2010-11 and was the second fastest to reach 70 wins behind Lou Henson.
In the 2009-10 season, New Mexico State won its second WAC Tournament crown in school history with a 69-63 win over Utah State in the title game. With the victory, Menzies directed the Aggies to their first trip to the NCAA Tournament since 2007. As a No. 12 seed in the Midwest Regional, New Mexico State faced No. 5 seed Michigan State, in Spokane, Wash. In the first meeting between the programs, the Aggies’ upset bid over Michigan State fell short, 70-67.
The Aggies registered the 24th 20-win season in school history in 2009-10 with a 22-12 mark. Menzies became only the second coach in program history to win 60 games in his first three seasons.
With one of the youngest teams in the country in 2008-09, Menzies led New Mexico State to a 17-15 record and a third-place showing in the WAC. The Aggies not only had the conference’s leading scorer in guard Jahmar Young but also the top rebounder in McKines. Young was awarded a first team All-WAC selection and was the first sophomore to earn the accolade at New Mexico State. The Aggies were just seconds away from their third consecutive WAC Tournament title game, but they lost a heartbreaker to Utah State, 71-70, in the tournament semifinals.
In his first year, Menzies led the Aggies to their first regular season WAC title in 2007-08. New Mexico State was co-champions after posting a 12-4 league record. Menzies also directed the Aggies to their second consecutive appearance in the WAC Tournament title game.
Nationally, the Aggies ranked in the top 25 in three statistical team categories including rebounding margin. New Mexico State was second in the country, only trailing North Carolina, with an advantage of 8.9 rebounds per game.
Making their second consecutive appearance in the WAC Tournament title game in 2008, the Aggies (21-14) just narrowly missed the NCAA Tournament after falling in triple overtime to Boise State in one of the most exciting conference championship games of the season.
Menzies guided the Aggies to their 23rd 20-plus win season in the program’s history, which was a challenge when the schedule included games at Duke, Louisville and against Texas and West Virginia. He was also the winningest first-year head coach in Aggie history. The 2007-08 edition was a veteran team with five seniors. Guard/forward Justin Hawkins became the Aggies’ first two-time, first-team All-WAC selection.
Menzies became the 24th coach in the history of Aggie basketball on June 29, 2007, after spending two seasons as an assistant coach under Rick Pitino at Louisville.
Considered one of the best recruiters in the country, Menzies has landed some of the nation’s top recruiting classes. In his last season at Louisville, the Cardinals finished 24-10, reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament and were No. 20 in the final USA Today/ESPN Men’s Basketball Coaches Top 25 Poll (2006-07).
Prior to joining the Cardinals’ staff, Menzies spent one year at UNLV under Lon Kruger (2004-05). With the Runnin’ Rebels, Menzies helped sign an incoming class that was rated fourth in the nation.
Before his time at UNLV, Menzies worked at Southern California for a season as an assistant coach (2003-04) under Henry Bibby. In only one year with the Trojans, he assisted in producing a No. 3-ranked recruiting class.
Menzies had a four-year tenure at San Diego State (1999-03). He was the leading recruiter for the Aztecs and Steve Fisher, who won the National Championship in 1989 at Michigan. Menzies helped to guide the Aztecs to the postseason in back-to-back years (2002-03) for the first time since 1975-76. At San Diego State, Menzies signed a pair of nationally ranked recruiting classes in 2001 (top 25) and 2000 (top 40) along with the program’s first-ever McDonald’s All-American.
Menzies began his collegiate career at Santa Monica (Calif.) College as an assistant coach under John McMullen. Menzies spent six seasons as an assistant and associate head coach (1991-94, 1995-96 and 1997-99) there. He was the team’s head coach for a year (in 1994-95) and guided the Corsairs to a 24-8 record. Menzies led Santa Monica to the Western States Conference title while he earned conference coach of the year honors.
With Menzies on the staff, the program was a collective 181-46. During his tenure, 38 players went on to NCAA schools. In 1996, the Corsairs produced a school-record 27-game winning streak and a school-best 32-2 finish. Menzies recruited the top three scorers in the school’s history.
Between his time at Santa Monica, he was as an assistant coach at Cal State Sacramento (1996-97). He coached under Don Newman as the program transitioned from Division II to Division I.
Beginning his coaching career at his prep alma mater, Hamilton High School in Los Angeles, Calif., Menzies was an assistant coach for eight years. A California native, Menzies was a letter winner in three sports at Hamilton.
Menzies earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from UCLA in 1987 and a master’s degree in education from Cal State Sacramento in 2003.