Miami Basketball Staff Promoted Welch And Fredrick
The Hurricanes elevated Riley Welch and CJ Fredrick following head coach Jai Lucas’ contract extension.
Updated on Sept. 25, 2026 in Basketball
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Miami head coach Jai Lucas has promoted Riley Welch to assistant coach and CJ Fredrick to assistant director of player development. These staff changes occur alongside Lucas' recent five-year contract extension with the Hurricanes.
Why it matters
The internal promotions provide continuity for the program as it builds off a successful season and looks to maintain its standing in national rankings. Miami is currently positioned at No. 18 in ESPN's Way-Too-Early rankings.
Miami finished the previous season with a 26-9 record, a significant improvement over the program's 7-24 mark during the final season of the previous coaching tenure.
The players
Jai Lucas
He is the head coach of the Miami men's basketball team who recently signed a five-year contract extension.
Riley Welch
He is an assistant coach for the Miami Hurricanes who previously served as a special assistant to the head coach.
CJ Fredrick
He is the new assistant director of player development at Miami who previously worked as a graduate assistant for the program.
The details
Riley Welch transitions to assistant coach after serving as a special assistant to the head coach last season, while CJ Fredrick moves into his role after working as a graduate assistant. The moves coincide with Jai Lucas finalizing a new five-year contract with the university last month.
Timeline
Riley Welch walked on at Kentucky from 2019 to 2021.
Jai Lucas served on the staff at Kentucky from 2020 to 2022.
Riley Welch worked as a graduate assistant from 2021 to 2023.
Head coach Jai Lucas signed a new contract in August 2026.
The promotions for Welch and Fredrick were announced on September 24, 2026.
Season Trajectory
These coaching staff additions are designed to sustain momentum for a program currently ranked No. 18 in ESPN's Way-Too-Early Rankings. The move reinforces the team's upward trajectory following last season's appearance in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
The staff stability provided by these promotions aims to capitalize on the 26-9 record from the previous season. The team is currently building toward a campaign that begins with a high expectation for a deep postseason run.
The takeaway
Staff continuity is a critical component for college programs looking to turn single-season success into a sustainable model. By retaining familiar faces in new roles, the coaching staff hopes to secure the program's place as a perennial contender.
Further reading
For more on the Hurricanes' outlook, visit the Basketball section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by On3.
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