FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 10, 2024
Farokmanesh Elevated to Associate Head Coach
Seven-year assistant steps into new role
FORT COLLINS – A staple since Niko Medved stepped on campus as the head coach of Colorado State men’s basketball in 2018, Ali Farokmanesh will have a new title to go by, Associate Head Coach. Medved announced the title change on Monday as the Rams opened their summer practice.
“Ali has been an instrumental part of what we have built here at Colorado State,” Medved said. “He is a tireless worker always looking to improve our program. Ali’s ability to connect and impact the young men we bring into our program is second to none. I am glad to have him on our staff.”
Farokmanesh has worked hand in hand with Medved running the team’s offense which has become one of the most efficient in the nation. He also helps lead the team’s recruiting efforts. Over his six years in Fort Collins, Farokmanesh has helped CSU earn a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances (2022, 2024) and an NIT semifinal (2021). The Rams have also won 20-plus games in four of the past five seasons.
Working with the program’s guards, Farokmanesh was key in the recruitment and development of Isaiah Stevens.
Stevens ended his CSU career as arguably the best player in program history holding the career scoring (2,350) and assists (863) title. He is the only player in Mountain West history to earn All-Conference honors five times, including being a first-team member in 2023 and 2024. He also earned the honor of Bob Cousy Award finalist in 2022 and semifinalist in 2024 awarded to the best point guard in college basketball.
Farokmanesh came to CSU after spending a year at Drake with Medved.
Before Drake, he worked as a graduate assistant and then Director of Player Relations and Development at Nebraska. He managed and oversaw the off-the-court responsibilities of the student-athletes, including implementing mentoring programs and community outreach. On campus, he directed recruiting operations, including on-campus hosting duties.
Farokmanesh’s coaching career follows a storied playing career at Northern Iowa. He helped UNI to a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances, including the program’s first-ever Sweet 16. He hit one of the most memorable shots in March Madness history to send the Panthers to the Sweet 16 with his fastbreak 3-pointer with 34 seconds left to knock off top-seed Kansas.
He went on to play four years of professional basketball in Europe competing for teams in the Netherlands, Austria and Switzerland.
Farokhmanesh received his degree in finance from UNI in 2010 and earned his master’s degree in educational administration from Nebraska in 2016. Ali and his wife Mallory have sons Tai, Liam and Luka and daughter Mila.
– STALWART –
—————————-
Ryan Pfeifer
Senior Director of Strategic Communications and Brand Enhancement
Colorado State Athletics
