LAS CRUCES, N.M. - New Mexico State men's basketball assistant coach Preston Laird has been named to the 7th Annual Silver Waves Media 100 Most Impactful Mid-Major Assistants list, one of the most respected honors for assistant coaches in Division I basketball. More than 40 past honorees from the list have gone on to become head coaches at the collegiate level.
"I'm thankful to Silver Waves Media for the recognition and honored to be included among such an accomplished group of assistant coaches," said Laird. "I'm grateful to Coach Hooten and New Mexico State for giving me the opportunity to do what I love every day."
The annual list highlights assistants who have made a significant impact on their programs and the college basketball landscape. This marks the fourth time Laird has earned recognition from Silver Waves Media, including a previous honor as an invitee to the Silver Waves Elite 75 Power Lunch during last year's Final Four. The exclusive event is regarded as one of the premier networking opportunities in college basketball, bringing together top assistant coaches from across the nation alongside athletic directors and associate athletic directors from a wide range of programs.
In his second season on Head Coach Jason Hooten's staff, Laird has been instrumental in the Aggies' success during the 2025-26 campaign, helping NM State open the year with a 6-0 record, its best start since the historic 1969-70 Final Four season. The strong opening stretch was highlighted by marquee wins over New Mexico and UC Irvine.
During the 2024-25 season, Laird played a key role in helping the Aggies post a 17-15 overall record and a 10-8 mark in Conference USA play. In addition to his on-court contributions, he was instrumental in the development and mentoring of Christian Cook and Peter Filipovity, both of whom earned All-Conference USA honors.
Laird returned to Las Cruces after spending five seasons as an assistant coach at Little Rock under Darrell Walker, along with a previous stop at UNLV. During his first year as an assistant on staff with Little Rock, he helped guide the Trojans to a 21-win campaign, capturing the Ohio Valley Conference regular season championship and earning the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament after being preseason picked to finish seventh in the league.
Before his tenure at Little Rock and UNLV, Laird spent four seasons at NM State under former head coach Marvin Menzies. During that stretch, he served in multiple roles while helping the Aggies achieve four consecutive postseason appearances and claim two WAC regular season titles, establishing himself as a key contributor to one of the program's most successful eras.
For complete coverage of NM State Men's Basketball, visit NMStateSports.com - the official home of Aggie athletics - and follow us on Twitter (@NMStateMBB), Instagram (@NMStateMBB), and like us on Facebook (NMStateMBB).
##NM State##
