Dearborn Native Mo Bazzi named UM-Dearborn Men's Basketball Head Coach
UM-Dearborn Athletics & Recreation named Mo Bazzi the next men's basketball head coach on Wednesday (June 4).
DEARBORN, Mich. – The University of Michigan-Dearborn has promoted Mohamed "Mo" Bazzi to the title of men's basketball head coach, UM-Dearborn Director of Athletics & Recreation Bryan Earl announced on Wednesday.
Born and raised in the heart of Dearborn, Bazzi brings a highly strategic and tactical approach to the game as the new Head Coach of the University of Michigan-Dearborn men's basketball program. After serving as Associate Head Coach since 2022, Bazzi now leads the program, focusing on elite-level execution, modern offensive design, and a culture built on accountability, toughness, and basketball intelligence. "Coach Bazzi has an ability to build and develop great relationships with student-athletes," Earl said. "His vision for the men's basketball program will no doubt lead to success in competition and in the classroom giving us great excitement in the next chapter of our men's basketball history."
As a player, Bazzi played three seasons in Lebanon's professional league, where he was known for his ability to control tempo, manipulate spacing, and make advanced reads. Before his pro career, he starred at Star International Academy in Dearborn Heights, becoming the all-time leading scorer with 1,436 points and earning 3x All-State honors in basketball. He continued his playing career at the NAIA level, in the WHAC at Madonna University, where he further developed his analytical approach to the game.
As a coach, Bazzi is known for crafting layered offensive systems built around the pace-and-space concept. His schemes emphasize timing, angles, and adaptability — training players to process coverages, exploit defensive shifts, and make the right read in every possession. Bazzi played an instrumental role in the development of Second Team All-Conference guard Jackson Reynolds. Reynolds set career-highs in almost every statistical category, averaging 19.6 ppg during the 2024-25 season. Bazzi's offensive tutelage helped the Wolverines clinch a spot in the WHAC Conference Tournament for the first time in five seasons.
Off the court, Bazzi is a proven entrepreneur and public speaker, having successfully built and sold multiple businesses. He brings that same passion and discipline to coaching, emphasizing player development, accountability, and preparation for life beyond the basketball court. His vision for the program centers on developing high-character student-athletes who can compete at a national level while growing as men.
