Former NBA G-League Coach Joins Men’s Basketball Staff

Loyola men’s basketball head coach Drew Valentine announced the hiring of Andrew Cobian Sept. 5, naming him an assistant coach and director of scouting.

Cobian comes to Loyola after a three year stint with the Long Island Nets of the NBA G-League — NBA’s development league — where he took on several roles including assistant coach, assistant video coordinator and director of player development.

Valentine wanted him for the Ramblers coaching staff because of the variety of skills he has picked up in his previous experiences, according to Cobian. 

“When I met with coach, it was just, be a Swiss Army Knife with my experience,” Cobian said. “Help sweat with the guys on the floor and just be an asset to him and the rest of the coaching staff.”

Before he was with Long Island, Cobian coached at Hofstra University in Hempstead, NY. In his five years at Hofstra, Cobian worked in video coordination and player development. 

Valentine said Cobian’s track record working with players is one of the things which drew him to hire Cobian. He said Cobian’s “fresh perspective” will help improve the program’s development. 

At his previous institutions, Cobian gained some experience working as a video coordinator. He said this position translated into his other coaching positions by helping him become a better teacher, and characterized video coordination as taking a “master class in basketball.” 

“Spending a lot of time in that role, it’s paid huge dividends,” Cobian said. “With the amount of information and film out there on players and opponents, it allows you to have that quick readability on what’s going on because you’ve put in the work of watching so much basketball.”

Cobian’s duties as assistant coach and director of scouting include researching first-years and transfers who could bring potential to the men’s basketball program, as well as helping Valentine on the court, filling in wherever he is needed, according to Cobian. 

Working in player development has been a constant for Cobian during his career. He said it’s something he loves to do because of the opportunities it gives him to build trust and personal relationships with players on-and-off the court. 

“I’m a relationship guy, so I think that goes a long way,” Cobian said. “When guys are on the same page and have a clear vision, it’s just going to lead to great results.” 

Cobian said he made the decision to join Loyola because of the people. He said the basketball business has “hectic, crazy long hours” and having a supportive set of coworkers makes it more enjoyable. 

He said he’s grateful for the opportunity to be back in college basketball, especially at a university which “checks all of his boxes.” 

Basketball has been a constant presence for Cobian’s whole life. In high school he won two Long Island Championships in 2006 and 2007. 

Cobian wound up playing Division III basketball at Centenary University in Hackettstown, NJ, where he was a three year starter and captain during his fourth-year campaign. He also ranks fifth all time in games played at the university. Cobian received his bachelor’s degree from Centenary in sports management in 2011. 

After Centenary, Cobian spent four seasons as an assistant coach with the New York Institute of Technology’s men’s basketball program. In his fourth and final season, Cobian helped lead the team to an East Coast Conference playoff appearance, and coached several All-Conference players. 

Cobian was in charge of the scouting and recruiting departments for the Bears, and led conditioning programs during the off-season. He also managed the social media accounts for the team. 

Cobian took on a graduate assistantship with Pace University’s men’s basketball program, while earning his master’s degree in media and communications. 

After his time at Pace, Cobian moved on to an assistant coach position at Hofstra. The team averaged more than 20 wins per season under his leadership, with the best two seasons in program history occurring while Cobian was an assistant coach. The Pride won 53 games from 2018-2020 and were back-to-back Colonial Athletic Association regular season champions.

Cobian joined the staff of the Long Island Nets, the G-League affiliates of the Brooklyn Nets, in 2021 as a video coordinator. He was promoted to assistant coach during his last season, leading the Nets to the Eastern Conference Finals.

Entering his 14th year of coaching, Cobian said he’d always been prepared for what might happen after his playing career ended. 

“The ball is going to stop bouncing and coaching was something I was always passionate about,” Cobian said. “I love the relationships. I love the teaching and the camaraderie. If my playing career was not going to go longer than college, I think this was the perfect fit.” 

Cobian said every person he’s worked with over the course of his career has impacted him in one way or another. He also said every coach he played for in his career had a role in molding him into the player he was and the coach he has become.  

Outside of basketball, Cobian has long held a passion for pottery. He said in high school he earned an award for his pottery, despite starting the class as a way to wind down before practices. Although he hasn’t spent time at the pottery wheel recently, Cobian said his house is filled with pieces he’s made, and is on the hunt for a place in Chicago to get back into the hobby.

Cobian moved to Chicago with his girlfriend, Danielle, and characterizes himself as a “high-energy guy.” He said he’s grateful for this opportunity to add more value to the men’s basketball program.