Rob Ehsan’s Second Chance

New Illinois Chicago Head Coach

(St. Louis, MO) – During the massive face lift going on in the Missouri Valley Conference, one coaching change has an eerily familiar sound to it. Rob Ehsan’s second chance as a head coach, happening in Chicago feels strangely like another coach’s second chance gig in the Windy City.

After Ehsan’s relatively successful stint as a head coach at Alabama Birmingham he was relieved of his duties and suddenly a coach ‘on the rise’ had to regroup and take steps to earn another shot.

After Porter Moser’s dismissal at Illinois State his star had dimmed and he took a job with Rick Majerus at Saint Louis. His second chance took place at Loyola Chicago, then in the Horizon League and then the Rambler program transitioned into the Missouri Valley.

After Ehsan spent time assisting one of his previous mentors he is now jumping into a Valley head coaching position in Chicago, at a former Horizon League program.

He feels better prepared this time around.

After a successful playing career at UC Davis, Ehsan’s rapid ascension in the coaching ranks found him working in ‘power five’ programs with nationally respected coaches Gary Williams and then Seth Greenberg. He was being touted as one of the best young coaches in America.

After assisting Jerod Haase at UAB he inherited the Blazers’ job and won 76 games in four Conference USA seasons. How he lost his job, when one of those seasons was cut short by covid is a mystery.

He worked for Haase at Stanford for the past three years.

Second Chance in Chicago

When Luke Yaklich was fired, UIC became one of a couple of programs on Ehsan’s radar. The Stanford staff had been let go and he was eager to find a head coaching position. Interestingly, he had been in the conversations when Yaklich was originally hired.

 

 

UIC’s Michael Lipitz noted that Ehsan’s and UIC’s ‘values alligned’. Ehsan says he and the UIC athletic administration have a high regard for leadership training and seizing the fresh opportunities for the Chicago-land university.

 

 

After four seasons as a head coach and numerous seasons in the assistant chair, Ehsan believes he knows so much more about coaching  and leadership at 42 than he did at 33. UIC’s head man says belief in leadership is critical.

 

 

Prepping for His Second Chance

While UIC retained several of its players from last year’s roster, he is building a mostly brand new roster. Recruiting players he can be successful coaching and hiring coaches with similar drive and passion is primary during Ehsan’s second chance as a head coach.

He has worked with several of his coaches during previous coaching stops. Associate Head Coach Kevin Devitt and he were at UAB together and assistant David Berkum was with him at Stanford.

While recruiting new players, Ehsan is grateful for the return of two senior Flames, Ethan Pickett and Filip Skobalj.

 

 

Ehsan’s early returns on the recruiting trail have been good. Ahmad Henderson is a double digit scoring point guard that was with Devitt at Niagara. Carlos Harris is a three-star local recruit who signed with ‘Coach Yak’ and is sticking around. Sasa Ciani and Javon Jackson were contributors on nationally prominent teams. There are others and hours after our interview, coach Ehsan announced another signing.

He believes UIC can be a good landing spot for good players and the Flames’ NIL situation is a good one. He also knows he has to ‘fail fast’.

 

 

While Ehsan has been touted as an ‘offensive tactician’ he says this offense has to fit the players. Rather than the players fitting a system, he wants to utilize his players unique talents. He desires that his players to have some creative freedom in their offensive efforts.

 

 

Interesting Ehsan & Moser Connection

The college head coaching fraternity has interesting connections and friendships. When Ehsan was dismissed at UAB, Porter Moser reached out to encourage the then, unemployed coach. They didn’t know each other at the time, but Moser wanted to lend a hand.

Ehsan says Moser told him their two careers had taken some similar paths and to expect good things to still take place. The two have maintained a relationship since that call in 2020.

 

 

Moser had led the Ramblers to the 2018 Final Four and during the season that followed that call, he would guide LUC to the Sweet Sixteen. Ehsan wants to duplicate that kind of Missouri Valley Conference and national success at his Windy City-based program.

Like Moser, Ehsan has learned from some outstanding, nationally acclaimed coaches. He has also experienced a early career ‘wake up call’ about the difficulties in the coaching business. Now, like Moser he is coaching in the Valley and in Chicago.

Head to YouTube to watch our entire conversation or to Valley Hoops Insider Podcasts to listen. You will learn more about the coaching staff and new players. He compares his ‘first pitch’ opportunities at Wrigley Field and at a UIC Flames baseball game.

Do Good

 

Editor: Cover photo courtesy of today.uic.edu.