MBB | McConnell Announces Chris Cobb As Associate Head Coach
4/7/2026 5:33:00 PM | Men's Basketball
MORAGA, Calif. - Saint Mary's College head men's basketball coach Mickey McConnell announced today the addition of Chris Cobb as associate head coach for the Gaels.
Cobb joins Saint Mary's after spending the past 12 years at Montana, including the last 10 years as the associate head coach for the Grizzlies.
"Chris is a talented and experienced coach on the West Coast and has excellent Bay Area ties from his time playing and coaching," McConnell said. "The addition of Chris is really going to elevate this program and he ties into the College and community perfectly. We can't wait to welcome Chris and his family to Moraga."
During his 12 seasons in Missoula, Cobb and the Grizzlies enjoyed unprecedented success, averaging 20.5 wins per season and winning four Big Sky Conference regular-season titles. Montana won back-to-back Big Sky tournament championships in 2018 and 2019 and added another in 2025. The Grizzlies made trips to the NCAA Tournament in those three years.
"I'm incredibly excited and grateful for the opportunity to join the men's basketball program at Saint Mary's. This is a place with a rich tradition and strong culture. To now be a part of it is truly special," Cobb said. "Coming back home to the Bay Area makes this even more meaningful for my family and I. This has always been a dream of mine—to be part of a program of this caliber, in a place that means so much personally. I'm energized to get to work, build relationships, and contribute to the continued success of Gaels basketball."
Cobb became the program's winningest assistant coach of all time in 2025 with 226 total wins. In addition to the 226 wins (.628 winning percentage), the Griz were 140-61 in Big Sky play (.697) since 2014-15, holding a .500 or better record over all nine Big Sky Conference opponents.
Prior to Montana, Cobb served four years as an assistant coach at Chico State (2010-14), where he helped lead the Wildcats to three consecutive NCAA DII tournament appearances, including a trip to the Elite Eight during the 2013-14 season. He was part of Chico State's first championship team in the California Collegiate Athletic Association in 2011-12 (the first in school history), working for head coach Greg Clink.
Cobb came to Chico State after working as an assistant to head coach Bill Treseler at San Francisco State during the 2009-10 season. The Gators posted a winning record that season, going 17-14.
He joined the coaching ranks immediately after completing a four-year playing career at Menlo College in Atherton, Calif., where he was a two-time All-California Pacific Conference first-team selection and part of the Oaks' conference championship team in 2008. He finished his collegiate career ranked second in school history for career assists and 3-pointers made.
Cobb was an outstanding prep player at Bishop O'Dowd High School in Oakland, Calif., and was instrumental in leading the Dragons to three consecutive Hayward Area Athletic League titles and a 2004 appearance in the state championship game. He was named first-team all-league during his junior and senior seasons, and was an All-Northern California Division III first-team selection as a senior.
He received his bachelor's degree in business management from Menlo College in 2009. He earned his master's degree in kinesiology, with an emphasis in sports administration, from Fresno Pacific University in 2012.
Chris and his wife, Alisa, welcomed a son, Clayton, in September 2019, and a daughter, Olivia, in November 2021.
#GaelsRise
Cobb joins Saint Mary's after spending the past 12 years at Montana, including the last 10 years as the associate head coach for the Grizzlies.
"Chris is a talented and experienced coach on the West Coast and has excellent Bay Area ties from his time playing and coaching," McConnell said. "The addition of Chris is really going to elevate this program and he ties into the College and community perfectly. We can't wait to welcome Chris and his family to Moraga."
During his 12 seasons in Missoula, Cobb and the Grizzlies enjoyed unprecedented success, averaging 20.5 wins per season and winning four Big Sky Conference regular-season titles. Montana won back-to-back Big Sky tournament championships in 2018 and 2019 and added another in 2025. The Grizzlies made trips to the NCAA Tournament in those three years.
"I'm incredibly excited and grateful for the opportunity to join the men's basketball program at Saint Mary's. This is a place with a rich tradition and strong culture. To now be a part of it is truly special," Cobb said. "Coming back home to the Bay Area makes this even more meaningful for my family and I. This has always been a dream of mine—to be part of a program of this caliber, in a place that means so much personally. I'm energized to get to work, build relationships, and contribute to the continued success of Gaels basketball."
Cobb became the program's winningest assistant coach of all time in 2025 with 226 total wins. In addition to the 226 wins (.628 winning percentage), the Griz were 140-61 in Big Sky play (.697) since 2014-15, holding a .500 or better record over all nine Big Sky Conference opponents.
Prior to Montana, Cobb served four years as an assistant coach at Chico State (2010-14), where he helped lead the Wildcats to three consecutive NCAA DII tournament appearances, including a trip to the Elite Eight during the 2013-14 season. He was part of Chico State's first championship team in the California Collegiate Athletic Association in 2011-12 (the first in school history), working for head coach Greg Clink.
Cobb came to Chico State after working as an assistant to head coach Bill Treseler at San Francisco State during the 2009-10 season. The Gators posted a winning record that season, going 17-14.
He joined the coaching ranks immediately after completing a four-year playing career at Menlo College in Atherton, Calif., where he was a two-time All-California Pacific Conference first-team selection and part of the Oaks' conference championship team in 2008. He finished his collegiate career ranked second in school history for career assists and 3-pointers made.
Cobb was an outstanding prep player at Bishop O'Dowd High School in Oakland, Calif., and was instrumental in leading the Dragons to three consecutive Hayward Area Athletic League titles and a 2004 appearance in the state championship game. He was named first-team all-league during his junior and senior seasons, and was an All-Northern California Division III first-team selection as a senior.
He received his bachelor's degree in business management from Menlo College in 2009. He earned his master's degree in kinesiology, with an emphasis in sports administration, from Fresno Pacific University in 2012.
Chris and his wife, Alisa, welcomed a son, Clayton, in September 2019, and a daughter, Olivia, in November 2021.
#GaelsRise
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