The University of Miami has officially announced the hiring of Erik Pastrana as associate head coach for the men's basketball program under newly appointed head coach Jai Lucas. A Miami native, Pastrana brings plenty of experience and a strong recruiting background to the Hurricanes' coaching staff.
FULL RELEASE ⬇️ https://t.co/h4lx18kapi
— Canes Men’s Basketball (@CanesHoops) April 15, 2025
Pastrana joins Miami after spending the past three seasons as an assistant coach at the University of Georgia. During his tenure with the Bulldogs, he contributed to two 20-win seasons and helped Georgia secure its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2015. His efforts in player development were evident, coaching SEC All-Freshman Team honorees Asa Newell (2025) and Silas Demary Jr. (2024). He also helped Georgia sign the 10th-best class in 2024 and the 19th-best class in 2025. Pastrana also brought in five-star center Asa Newell (class of 2025).
Prior to Georgia, Pastrana held assistant coaching positions at several D-I programs, including Oklahoma State, Florida Atlantic, Florida International, and Stephen F. Austin. At Stephen F. Austin, he was a part of three consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances and mentoring three consecutive Southland Conference Players of the Year.
While at Oklahoma State, Pastrana helped assemble the No. 4 recruiting class in 2020, which featured Cade Cunningham who was the eventual No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft.
Head coach Jai Lucas expressed enthusiasm about Pastrana's addition, stating, "Erik is someone I have always wanted to have on my staff. His work ethic, communication skills, and ability to build relationships with the players will be crucial to our program’s success. To bring him home to South Florida was a no brainer.”
Pastrana's return to his hometown is expected to boost Miami's recruiting efforts, particularly within the South Florida region. Lucas has also filled out part of his staff with Andrew Moran and Charlton "C.Y." Young. Jeff Dyer is also expected to continue his role as Director of Basketball Operations.