EL SEGUNDO, Calif. – NM State Associate Head Coach Preston Laird has been recognized as one of the nation's top assistants. On Monday, Silver Waves Media announced that Laird has been named to the seventh annual 100 Most Impactful: Men's Mid Major Assistants/GM's list.
 
Recently, Laird also received a promotion and will begin his first season as the Aggies' associate head coach entering the 2026-27 season.
 
Laird was the lone Conference USA assistant recognized on Monday. This also marks the third time that Laird has received the honor, being recognized in 2021 and in 2022.
 
After playing four seasons at Memphis where he started as a walk-on and eventually earned a full scholarship and became a team captain.
 
Laird got his coaching start in Las Cruces under Head Coach Marvin Menzies, serving as a director of basketball operations while also assisting the program in off-court player development and Academics. During Laird's first stint with the Aggies, the squad made three-straight NCAA tournament appearances (2013-15), posting an overall record of 97-43 and going 52-10 in conference play during that span.
 
Following his first stay in Las Cruces, Laird followed Coach Menzies to UNLV where he spent three seasons. There, he began as the director of basketball operations before being promoted to assistant coach ahead of the 2018-19 campaign.
 
He then served as an assistant at Little Rock, playing a pivotal role in his first season on staff as he helped the Trojans reach 21 wins and clinch the regular season championship after the program was picked to finish 11^th in the Sun Belt preseason poll.
 
Following his first year at Little Rock, Laird was recognized as one of the top 50 most impactful mid-major assistant coaches by Silver Waves Media – an honor he would receive again in 2022.
 
Laird returned to Las Cruces ahead of the 2024-25 season and has served as Head Coach Jason Hooten's top assistant since his arrival.
 
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