Arizona assistant Rem Bakamas is joining the Texas Tech coaching staff

[WILD]

Rem Bakamus is moving from Arizona to Texas Tech, joining the Red Raiders as an assistant coach under head coach Grant McCasland. Bakamus spent four seasons with the Arizona Wildcats, initially serving as Director of Player Development from 2021 before being promoted to assistant coach for the 2024-25 season. His tenure at Arizona was marked by success, including helping the team reach the Sweet 16 and achieve a 14-6 record in their inaugural Big 12 season. A former walk-on at Gonzaga, where he played under Arizona head coach Tommy Lloyd from 2012-17, Bakamus also contributed to Baylor's 2021 national championship as a graduate assistant, showcasing his knack for player development and program-building. His departure from Arizona, announced on August 1, 2025, leaves the Wildcats with a vacancy on their coaching staff as they prepare for the 2025-26 season.

The move to Texas Tech adds intrigue to the budding Big 12 rivalry between the Red Raiders and Arizona, where the teams split their regular-season matchups last year but saw Arizona triumph in the conference tournament semifinals. Bakamus' familiarity with Lloyd, combined with his recent collaboration with McCasland on the USA Basketball U19 team that won gold at the 2025 FIBA World Cup, makes this a seamless yet high-profile transition. At Texas Tech, Bakamus joins a program coming off an Elite Eight appearance and a 28-9 season, bringing his experience from elite programs like Gonzaga, Baylor, and Arizona. His heartfelt social media farewell to Arizona, expressing gratitude to Lloyd, players, and fans, underscores his deep ties to Tucson.

https://x.com/ArizonaMBB/status/1952503811274395671?t=oBPF9BurZg2ztFxND658qQ&s=19

[KansasCityCats]

Not a surprise because McCausland is close to Lloyd.

[|ᴘ|ʀ|ʏ|ᴍ|ᴇ|]

I don't understand why he would leave to be an assistant somewhere else unless he got a big pay raise or just really didn't want to be here anymore.

[KansasCityCats]

Arizona already has 8 coaches on the staff, not including trainers (Rounds/Kokoskie).  TTU needed a couple other bodies on the bench and the Raiders run a very similar system.  Lloyd an McCausland speak regularly and this isn't a "backhanded move".  Most assistants are working their way up the ranks, in order to get a head coaching job.  To attain that goal, they typically need experience under multiple coaches, so waiting in line under Lloyd's tenure wouldn't expedite that process.

Best of luck to Bakamus!