July 17, 2009

DAVIS, Calif. - Brandon Laird has been hired as an assistant coach for the UC Davis men's basketball program, announced head coach Gary Stewart. The former Aggie spent the past three years as head coach at Menlo College following the previous three years as an assistant with the Oaks. As a graduate of UC Davis, he was a member of the Aggies' 1998 NCAA Championship team.

Laird's time as head coach at Menlo included leading the team to 18 wins in 2007-08, which was the most since 1990. Along the way, the Oaks posted a 13-3 conference record and finished with a No. 29 national ranking. The team's berth in the NAIA Tournament that year was just the third for the school. Menlo was also awarded the Buffalo Funds Five Star "Champions of Character" Award while Laird was head coach.

Prior to taking over the top spot, Laird spent the previous three seasons as an assistant at Menlo under then-head coach and current Aggie assistant Kevin Nosek. His first collegiate coaching experience took place at UC Davis where Laird served on the staff during the 2002-03 season. He spent the prior year as an assistant at El Camino High School in Sacramento.

"I am delighted with Brandon's decision to return to UC Davis," said Stewart. "He is an accomplished coach who possesses all of the necessary attributes needed to help continue to move our program forward. His head coaching experience affords us the opportunity to add an outstanding teacher to our staff who is well versed in all aspects of coaching at the intercollegiate level."

Laird played a total of 85 games in his four year Aggie career. He graduated in 2001 before earning a masters in 2003 from the United States Sports Academy.