Ali Farokhmanesh is a former professional basketball player and current assistant coach for the Colorado State Rams men’s basketball team. Born on April 16, 1988, in Pullman, Washington, he played college basketball at the University of Northern Iowa (UNI), where he gained national attention for a pivotal three-point shot that helped UNI upset top-seeded Kansas in the 2010 NCAA Tournament.
Playing Career:
- College: After transferring from Kirkwood Community College, Farokhmanesh started for the UNI Panthers from 2008 to 2010. In his senior year, he averaged 9.7 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game, with a field goal percentage of 39.4%.
- Professional: Following college, Farokhmanesh played professionally in Europe for teams in Switzerland, Austria, and the Netherlands from 2010 to 2014. He earned the Dutch Basketball League’s Sixth Man of the Year award in 2014.
Coaching Career:
- Nebraska: Transitioning to coaching, Farokhmanesh served as a graduate assistant and later as Director of Player Relations and Development at the University of Nebraska from 2014 to 2017.
- Drake University: In April 2017, he joined Drake University’s men’s basketball staff as an assistant coach under Niko Medved.
- Colorado State University: Farokhmanesh followed Medved to Colorado State University in 2018, initially as an assistant coach. He was promoted to Associate Head Coach in May 2024. His contributions have been instrumental in the team’s success, including NCAA Tournament appearances in 2022 and 2024, and an NIT semifinal appearance in 2021.
Personal Life:
Farokhmanesh is of European and Iranian descent. His father, Mashallah, was born in Borujerd, Iran, and played for the Iranian men’s national volleyball team before immigrating to the United States.
His mother, Cindy Fredrick, has had a distinguished career in coaching women’s volleyball, including a tenure as head coach at the University of Iowa. Ali is married to Mallory Husz, a former Iowa Hawkeyes volleyball player, and they have three sons and a daughter.
For a visual recap of Farokhmanesh’s memorable shot against Kansas, you can watch the following highlight: