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Men’s Basketball Finalizes Coaching Staff for 2025-26 Season
9/15/2025 1:50:00 PM | Men's Basketball
PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Brown Men's Basketball Head Coaching Chair Mike Martin '04 has announced the addition of Omar Lowery and Ta-Rel Franklin to the program's coaching staff, in addition to the promotions of Tyson Wheeler to Associate Head Coach and DeVon Price to Assistant Coach.
Lowery joins the program as an Assistant Coach, and Franklin joins the program as the Operations Coordinator.
"We are very fortunate to be adding two great staff members in Omar and Ta-Rel," Martin said. "Omar has a vast array of experiences, including having been an assistant at the highest level in the Big East. He has worked with great coaches and will make our program better in every way. Ta-Rel has had the opportunity to be a head coach, assistant coach, and be in an operations role in a short amount of time at every level of college basketball. We are thrilled to add them both to the Brown basketball family."
Lowery joins Brown after 18 years of NCAA Division I men's basketball coaching experience. In 18 years, 17 players he recruited and developed have been named All-Conference, and 20 players he recruited and developed played in the NBA, or overseas. Lowery's teams have made six postseason appearances with him on staff. All of the players Lowery has recruited have either graduated or departed early for the NBA.
Most recently, he spent the 2025 season as the head coach of Team Herro 17U. Prior to Team Herro, Lowery embarked on his second stint at Cal Poly (2022-24). From 2017-2022, Lowery was an assistant coach at Butler. The Bulldogs reached new national heights with Lowery on the coaching staff, as they were ranked No. 5 in the nation, the highest in program history. Butler ranked in the top 25 in all national polls and were included in every 2020 NCAA Tournament projection. Lowery helped sign a top 15 nationally ranked recruiting class, the highest rated class in program history. While at Butler, Lowery was named one of the 50 most impactful High Major Assistant Coaches by Silver Waves Media (2020).
In one season at UW-Milwaukee (2016-17), Lowery helped the program advance to the Horizon League Tournament Championship as the No. 10 seed. In Lowery's first stint at Cal Poly (2009-13), the Mustangs defeated No. 11 UCLA 70-68 on Nov. 25, 2012 for the program's first win against a ranked opponent. Lowery recruited 10 of the 13 scholarship players on Cal Poly's 2014 Big West Championship roster, the 2014 Championship remains the lone Big West Championship and NCAA Tournament appearance. His first collegiate coaching position came as an assistant coach at Texas State (2006-2009). During his three years there, he helped increase the program's win total each season.
Ta-Rel Franklin spent the 2024-25 season as the head coach of the Rockford University women's basketball program. There, he helped guide D'Asia Washington to being named First Team All-Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference. Prior to his time at Rockford, Ta-Rel was the women's basketball Director of Basketball Operations at Cal Poly. In his lone season at Cal Poly (2023-24), the program won seven more games than the previous year (17) and made the WNIT, the program's first postseason appearance in 10 years. He oversaw all daily operations of the program and effectively managed and scheduled all travel while developing, implementing, and managing film.
Prior to his time at Cal Poly, Franklin spent a total of four years coaching at his alma mater, Alderson Broaddus University. He was the head coach of the women's program for the 2022-23 season. Alderson Broaddus defeated No. 13 University of Charleston on Jan. 11, 2023, the lone ranked win in program history. Franklin was the associate head coach of the men's team from 2019-2022, he recruited and coached the 2021-22 Mountain East Conference Freshman of the Year, Jalen Knott. Franklin also taught as an adjunct professor teaching Diversity in Sports 101.
As an assistant coach at Hendrix College for the 2018-19 season, Franklin was responsible for providing in-depth game and player analysis of opponents through video breakdowns.
As an assistant at Bluffton University, Franklin received his Masters of Business Administration with a concentration in Sports Management. At Bluffton, he created, identified, and corresponded marketing strategies for potential recruits. With Franklin on the staff, Bluffton returned to the Heartland Conference Tournament during the 2017-18 season.
As a student, Franklin was the Director of Basketball Operations and a Student Assistant at Alderson Broaddus. He assisted with daily practice planning, travel plans and monitored the daily recruitment log. He was an in-game coach and supervised 100 percent of the preseason conditioning program. The team also was the 2014-15 Great Midwest Athletic Conference Regular Season and Conference Tournament Champions. Alderson Broaddus went 40-17 over a two-year stretch with Franklin.
During the summer of 2013. He was the Assistant Director of Basketball Operations with the World Basketball Association. He worked entirely with the Director of Basketball Operations in scheduling, marketing, public relations, filming, and management of the league. He updated website and social media pages with biographical information on league, teams, and players. His work improved impressions by 48 percent.
"Tyson and DeVon both excelled in their previous roles and have earned these promotions," Martin added. "We've been able to consistently bring in really talented coaches to our staff and also try to develop them during their time. Tyson and DeVon are both great examples of that and our program will continue to benefit from the quality of their work but more importantly the quality of human beings they each are."
The 2025-26 season will be the fourth season for Tyson Wheeler with Brown, Wheeler has worked primarily with guards during his time on College Hill. Most notably, Wheeler helped the development of three-time First Team All-Ivy performer Kino Lilly Jr. '25. Lilly Jr. departed Brown with the most three-pointers in program history, the third-most three-pointers in Ivy League history, and the second-most points in program history.
After spending his first season as the Operations Coordinator, Price will be an Assistant with the Bears. As the Operations Coordinator, Price oversaw all aspects of team travel, and day-to-day operations of the program.
Brown will begin its 2025-26 season when they welcome Siena to the Pizzitola Sports Center on Friday, Nov. 7 at 7 p.m.
BROWN UNIVERSITY SPORTS FOUNDATION
The Brown University Sports Foundation (BUSF) is the backbone of our athletics program, playing a crucial role in enhancing the student-athlete experience. This is possible through philanthropic support from our alumni, parents, fans, and friends. Your gift through the Sports Foundation can immediately impact today's Brown Bears, helping them excel in the classroom, in competition, and, most importantly, in the community. Please click here to learn more about how you can support the Bears.
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL
For the latest on Brown Athletics, please follow @BrownU_Bears on X and @BrownU_Bears on Instagram. Like BrownUBears on Facebook and subscribe to the BrownAthletics YouTube channel.
Lowery joins the program as an Assistant Coach, and Franklin joins the program as the Operations Coordinator.
"We are very fortunate to be adding two great staff members in Omar and Ta-Rel," Martin said. "Omar has a vast array of experiences, including having been an assistant at the highest level in the Big East. He has worked with great coaches and will make our program better in every way. Ta-Rel has had the opportunity to be a head coach, assistant coach, and be in an operations role in a short amount of time at every level of college basketball. We are thrilled to add them both to the Brown basketball family."
Lowery joins Brown after 18 years of NCAA Division I men's basketball coaching experience. In 18 years, 17 players he recruited and developed have been named All-Conference, and 20 players he recruited and developed played in the NBA, or overseas. Lowery's teams have made six postseason appearances with him on staff. All of the players Lowery has recruited have either graduated or departed early for the NBA.
Most recently, he spent the 2025 season as the head coach of Team Herro 17U. Prior to Team Herro, Lowery embarked on his second stint at Cal Poly (2022-24). From 2017-2022, Lowery was an assistant coach at Butler. The Bulldogs reached new national heights with Lowery on the coaching staff, as they were ranked No. 5 in the nation, the highest in program history. Butler ranked in the top 25 in all national polls and were included in every 2020 NCAA Tournament projection. Lowery helped sign a top 15 nationally ranked recruiting class, the highest rated class in program history. While at Butler, Lowery was named one of the 50 most impactful High Major Assistant Coaches by Silver Waves Media (2020).
In one season at UW-Milwaukee (2016-17), Lowery helped the program advance to the Horizon League Tournament Championship as the No. 10 seed. In Lowery's first stint at Cal Poly (2009-13), the Mustangs defeated No. 11 UCLA 70-68 on Nov. 25, 2012 for the program's first win against a ranked opponent. Lowery recruited 10 of the 13 scholarship players on Cal Poly's 2014 Big West Championship roster, the 2014 Championship remains the lone Big West Championship and NCAA Tournament appearance. His first collegiate coaching position came as an assistant coach at Texas State (2006-2009). During his three years there, he helped increase the program's win total each season.
Ta-Rel Franklin spent the 2024-25 season as the head coach of the Rockford University women's basketball program. There, he helped guide D'Asia Washington to being named First Team All-Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference. Prior to his time at Rockford, Ta-Rel was the women's basketball Director of Basketball Operations at Cal Poly. In his lone season at Cal Poly (2023-24), the program won seven more games than the previous year (17) and made the WNIT, the program's first postseason appearance in 10 years. He oversaw all daily operations of the program and effectively managed and scheduled all travel while developing, implementing, and managing film.
Prior to his time at Cal Poly, Franklin spent a total of four years coaching at his alma mater, Alderson Broaddus University. He was the head coach of the women's program for the 2022-23 season. Alderson Broaddus defeated No. 13 University of Charleston on Jan. 11, 2023, the lone ranked win in program history. Franklin was the associate head coach of the men's team from 2019-2022, he recruited and coached the 2021-22 Mountain East Conference Freshman of the Year, Jalen Knott. Franklin also taught as an adjunct professor teaching Diversity in Sports 101.
As an assistant coach at Hendrix College for the 2018-19 season, Franklin was responsible for providing in-depth game and player analysis of opponents through video breakdowns.
As an assistant at Bluffton University, Franklin received his Masters of Business Administration with a concentration in Sports Management. At Bluffton, he created, identified, and corresponded marketing strategies for potential recruits. With Franklin on the staff, Bluffton returned to the Heartland Conference Tournament during the 2017-18 season.
As a student, Franklin was the Director of Basketball Operations and a Student Assistant at Alderson Broaddus. He assisted with daily practice planning, travel plans and monitored the daily recruitment log. He was an in-game coach and supervised 100 percent of the preseason conditioning program. The team also was the 2014-15 Great Midwest Athletic Conference Regular Season and Conference Tournament Champions. Alderson Broaddus went 40-17 over a two-year stretch with Franklin.
During the summer of 2013. He was the Assistant Director of Basketball Operations with the World Basketball Association. He worked entirely with the Director of Basketball Operations in scheduling, marketing, public relations, filming, and management of the league. He updated website and social media pages with biographical information on league, teams, and players. His work improved impressions by 48 percent.
"Tyson and DeVon both excelled in their previous roles and have earned these promotions," Martin added. "We've been able to consistently bring in really talented coaches to our staff and also try to develop them during their time. Tyson and DeVon are both great examples of that and our program will continue to benefit from the quality of their work but more importantly the quality of human beings they each are."
The 2025-26 season will be the fourth season for Tyson Wheeler with Brown, Wheeler has worked primarily with guards during his time on College Hill. Most notably, Wheeler helped the development of three-time First Team All-Ivy performer Kino Lilly Jr. '25. Lilly Jr. departed Brown with the most three-pointers in program history, the third-most three-pointers in Ivy League history, and the second-most points in program history.
After spending his first season as the Operations Coordinator, Price will be an Assistant with the Bears. As the Operations Coordinator, Price oversaw all aspects of team travel, and day-to-day operations of the program.
Brown will begin its 2025-26 season when they welcome Siena to the Pizzitola Sports Center on Friday, Nov. 7 at 7 p.m.
BROWN UNIVERSITY SPORTS FOUNDATION
The Brown University Sports Foundation (BUSF) is the backbone of our athletics program, playing a crucial role in enhancing the student-athlete experience. This is possible through philanthropic support from our alumni, parents, fans, and friends. Your gift through the Sports Foundation can immediately impact today's Brown Bears, helping them excel in the classroom, in competition, and, most importantly, in the community. Please click here to learn more about how you can support the Bears.
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL
For the latest on Brown Athletics, please follow @BrownU_Bears on X and @BrownU_Bears on Instagram. Like BrownUBears on Facebook and subscribe to the BrownAthletics YouTube channel.
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