Jerrod Calhoun announces six assistant coaching additions
Head coach Jerrod Calhoun officially introduced six additions to his first coaching staff for Cincinnati on Tuesday. Mantoris Robinson will step in as associate head coach, while Ben Asher, Johnny Hill, Max Bent, and Curran Walsh have been named assistant coaches. Paul Molinari will serve as the program’s chief of staff.
(Photo: Taylor Keeton / Bearcatsportshub)
Each of the six worked alongside Calhoun during this past season at Utah State, where the Aggies captured both the Mountain West regular-season and tournament titles. Over Calhoun’s two seasons at Utah State, the Aggies compiled an impressive 55–15 record, including a 30–10 mark in conference play, made back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances, and produced five All-Mountain West selections. Among them was 2026 Mountain West Player of the Year Mason Falslev.
From the official gobearcats press release, Calhoun emphasized the importance of familiarity and shared standards when assembling his staff.
“Having a group that understands the daily expectations is critical,” he said. “It’s always about the program first. These guys have all been part of winning environments and know what that looks like across the board—from working with players to handling responsibilities off the court. I’m excited to keep building with this group.”
Robinson reunites with Calhoun after spending two years together at Utah State and another two at Youngstown State. His coaching background also includes stops at East Tennessee State, Charleston, Appalachian State, and Fairmont State. A Charlotte native, Robinson earned his undergraduate degree from Winthrop in 2010 and later completed his MBA at Fairmont State.
“Manny brings a wealth of experience,” Calhoun said. “He’s going to be our associate head coach and has a relentless work ethic. He’s a strong recruiter and well-rounded coach on both ends of the floor. Having worked with him early in my career, I’ve seen how much he’s grown.”
Asher also has a long history with Calhoun, including stints at Utah State and Youngstown State. Before that, he spent time at Rutgers, Siena, and NC State, and began his career at West Virginia as a student manager. While there, he was part of a program that reached the Final Four in 2010.
“Ben will focus heavily on offense, including game planning and concepts, and will handle scheduling,” Calhoun said. “He’s energetic, versatile, and an important piece of what we’re building.”
Hill arrives after working with Calhoun at Utah State and spending time under Danny Sprinkle as well. His coaching résumé includes stops at UIC, Montana State, and Grand Canyon. As a player, Hill competed at Illinois State, UT Arlington, and Purdue, where he contributed to an NCAA Tournament team.
“Johnny brings a strong playing background, including his time at Purdue,” Calhoun said. “He’ll lead our defense and serve as our defensive coordinator, but he’s capable in every area of coaching.”
Bent, who was promoted to assistant coach at Utah State after serving as director of video and analytics, brings experience from Denver and the University of Charleston. A Michigan graduate, he began his career as a graduate assistant at Detroit Mercy.
“Max will primarily work on the offensive side,” Calhoun said. “He’s very sharp analytically and has a bright future in coaching.”
Walsh most recently handled player personnel and analytics at Utah State and has prior experience at Denver and Loyola Marymount. He also coached at the high school level, helping lead St. Anthony High School to a state title.
“Curran has steadily climbed the ranks,” Calhoun said. “He’ll focus on personnel, both ours and our opponents’, and will play a key role in preparation.”
Molinari rounds out the group, bringing more than three decades of coaching experience. He has worked with Calhoun at multiple stops, including Utah State, Youngstown State, and Fairmont State, and has also coached at Winthrop, Cleveland State, Wichita State, and UNLV.
“Paul will oversee a wide range of responsibilities as chief of staff,” Calhoun said. “His experience and familiarity with how we operate make him invaluable, especially when it comes to managing travel and daily logistics.”