New Mexico State University Athletics

A longtime fixture on both the AAU and prep basketball scenes in the state of California, Darin Graham made the move to the Land of Enchantment to join head coach Chris Jans' staff as the Aggies' Director of Player Development prior to the start of the 2021-22 season. 

Graham brings a vast array of experience to NM State's program, most recently as an assistant coach for San Bernardino Valley College from 2019-21. In Graham's inaugural season on the Wolverines' staff, the team posted a 20-10 mark which included a 10-6 mark in league action. That season, San Bernardino Valley College moved on to the second round of the California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) playoffs. 

Before joining the junior college coaching ranks, Graham had already distinguished himself as one of the area's premier coaches at both the high school and AAU level. As a coach in the high school ranks, Graham enjoyed a 13-year tenure (2005-18) as head coach at San Bernardino High School and led the Cardinals to the CIF playoffs in just his second season. That milestone represent the first time in a decade in which the program had made the cut for the playoffs. In total, Graham won six league titles during his stint at SBHS - three in the San Andreas League and another trio in the Mountain Valley League. As the successes continued to roll in, so did the accolades as Graham earned five Coach of the Year citations as well as six Citrus Belt Area Athletic Directors Association League Championship Coach titles. Graham had six of players collect All-CIF Honors and another two of his players picked up All-State laurels. Putting an emphasis on academics as well as athletics, Graham's student-athletes at SBHS boasted a 100-percent graduation rate through his tenure. 

Outside of the high school ranks, Graham has served as a member of the Compton Magic AAU program since 2006. Known as "DG", the nickname given to him by the Compton Magic CEO, Etop Udo-Ema, Graham witnessed plenty of success with the Magic where he coached at the 15U, 16U and 17U levels.

While coaching the 15U Compton Magic team, Graham won his first National Championship, finishing the AAU season ranked number-one in the country. That particular 15U team included the likes of TJ Leaf (UCLA, 18th overall selection in 2017 NBA Draft by the Indiana Pacers), Dikymbe Martin (UC Riverside) and Christian Gray (Cal State Northridge). In 2018, after being moved up to the 17U level, Graham and the Compton Magic finished the year ranked number-one in the country again. Not only were the 17U Magic the nation's premier teams that season, they scored a victory in arguably one of the biggest games in AAU history. The Compton Magic (the top ranked ADIDAS team) defeated Team Takeover (the top ranked NIKE team) 81-79 in overtime. Some of the players on the Compton Magic's roster that year included Onyeka Okongwu (sixth overall selection in 2020 NBA Draft), Isaiah Mobley (Cleveland Cavaliers), Jarod Lucas (Nevada), Johnny Juzang (Utah Jazz), Isaiah Hill (Fresno State) and Evan Mobley (third overall selection in 2021 NBA Draft). Since the Compton Magic’s formation, it has sent hundreds of players on to four-year schools as well as to play professional basketball at the highest level in the United States and overseas. Dalen Terry, a member of the Chicago Bulls, also played under Graham while competing for the Compton Magic.

Coach Darin "DG" Graham earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Information Management from California State University, San Bernardino. He also earned a Master of Science in Physical Education from Azusa Pacific University, a Master of Science in Special Education from National University, a Master of Arts in Education from National University and is currently working on his Doctorate in General Psychology with an emphasis in Performance Psychology.