DAVIS, Calif. — UC Davis men's basketball head coach
Jim Les announced the addition of
Fortune Solomon as an assistant coach ahead of the 2025-26 season. Solomon joins the Aggies after most recently serving as an assistant coach with the Brooklyn Nets' G League affiliate, the Long Island Nets.
"We're thrilled to welcome Fortune to our staff," Les said. "His passion for the game, combined with his diverse experience at the NBA, G League, international, and collegiate levels, makes him a tremendous asset to our program. His ability to connect with players, teach the game, and bring out the best in those around him will have an immediate impact. I'm excited about the energy and perspective he brings to our team."
Solomon brings more than a decade of coaching and player development experience across the NBA G League, international basketball, and the collegiate ranks. He has been a lead assistant with the South Sudan National Team since 2021, helping guide the nation to its first-ever Olympic berth in any sport with a historic 4-2 run at the 2023 FIBA World Cup to qualify for the 2024 Paris Games.
In recognition of his impact on the global basketball community, Solomon was honored in October 2024 as the inaugural recipient of the University of San Francisco Sport Management Alumni of the Year Award. The honor celebrates alumni who have demonstrated exceptional contributions to the sports industry while making a positive impact in the community.
Before his stint with Long Island, Solomon was the lead assistant for the Raptors 905 (2023–24) and spent two seasons as an assistant with the South Bay Lakers, where he helped develop a league-high eight NBA call-ups in 2022 and guided the team to back-to-back playoff appearances. He previously worked as a player development analyst with the Oklahoma City Thunder/Blue from 2017–21, contributing to five consecutive playoff appearances.
In addition to his work with South Sudan, Solomon also served as head video coordinator for the Nigerian National Team from 2016–19.
At the collegiate level, Solomon has held roles at Stanford, the University of San Francisco, and Cal State Bakersfield.
"I'm honored to join the UC Davis men's basketball program," Solomon said. "Under Coach Les' leadership and the guidance of a veteran staff that has consistently built success, this program has established a culture of excellence and stability. I'm grateful for the opportunity to contribute to that tradition and to grow within such a proven environment."
A graduate of Cal State Bakersfield with a degree in business management (2014), Solomon went on to earn his master's in sport management from the University of San Francisco (2016).
