Ron Dubois

Bringing more than two decades of coaching experience from the NBA, international game and collegiate levels, Ron DuBois is in his third season as an assistant with the Cal Poly men’s basketball program.

 

Serving the program in recruiting evaluations, opponent scouting and quality control in all aspects of team operations, DuBois boasts 18 seasons of NCAA experience (including nine as head coach at UC Santa Cruz) and seven years between the NBA and G League.

 

Furthermore, DuBois has served as a coaching staff analyst with both the Santa Cruz Warriors (NBA G League) and Uruguay Men’s National Team programs.

 

His influence with the Mustangs has been immediate with Cal Poly twice finishing among the nation’s top 10 leaders for three-pointers per game and averaging 82.1 points per game both seasons. During the 2024-25 season alone, Cal Poly reached the program’s first Big West Championship semifinal in 11 years, finished third nationally at 11.5 three-pointers per game and set new program single season records for total points, three-pointers and field goals.

 

“Basketball has taken Ron all over the world,” said third-year Cal Poly head coach Mike DeGeorge, who initially crossed paths with DuBois after the latter approached the former about a coaching position with Division III Rhodes College (Memphis) in 2010. “For the past 15 years, he’s served a variety of roles for me including assistant coach, mentor, confidant and friend. There’s no finer person or coach and I’m thrilled we’ll be able to have him on staff. He’s played a major role in the coaching development of [Cal Poly assistants] Kyle Bossier and Sam Walters. He’s able to unify the staff in our purpose and our players have benefited tremendously from his experience at every level.”

 

A native of Lodi, Calif., DuBois played collegiately at Arizona State, rising to the program’s captaincy for his 1998-99 senior season. His coaching career began the very next season as a graduate assistant with the Sun Devils. After completing his master’s degree, DuBois served as a video coordinator with the Phoenix Suns from 2001-03 and, in 2002, as an assistant coach with the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury.

 

An assistant coaching role followed with UC Davis (2003-06) – then in its transition to Division I – alongside a head coaching stop with the Chico Force (2005, 2006) of the former International Basketball League.

 

DuBois’ first international assignment came during the 2006-07 season with French first division club Paris Basket Racing as a coaching staff analyst.

 

A return to the NBA followed as an assistant coach with the Memphis Grizzlies (2007-09) and as a head coach for the franchise during the Las Vegas Summer League.

 

In 2010 (and after taking charge of the Antigua and Barbuda Men’s National Team the prior year), DuBois crossed paths with DeGeorge before joining the coaching staff at Rhodes College. In two seasons alongside DeGeorge, DuBois helped kickstart the program’s revival. Having sustained 10 straight losing seasons prior to DeGeorge’s appointment, Rhodes captured the Southern Athletic Association title a year after DuBois’ departure.

 

In 2012, DuBois began his lengthiest coaching stint, continuing at the Division III level with UC Santa Cruz. He concluded a nine-season tenure at UC Santa Cruz in 2021 as the Banana Slugs program’s all-time victories leader and with a 100 percent student-athlete graduate rate. DuBois also provided the coaching start for fellow first-year Cal Poly assistant Sam Walters, who joined UC Santa Cruz in 2019.

 

In 2021, DuBois had one more international adventure. Joining his wife, Rebecca – a professor at UC Santa – on sabbatical in Uruguay, DuBois served as the national federation’s coaching staff analyst.

 

“It was an amazing opportunity with all of their national team programs, which were headed by Rubén Magnano (a FIBA Hall of Fame inductee and coach of Argentina’s 2004 Olympic gold medal winning squad),” DuBois said. “As part of the national team programs, I just brought a different view. It was an amazing adventure for our family.

 

“It’s a simple game, but its played differently in different parts of the world. I just loved learning new things. I loved the FIBA game – the way the game is played at that level and the ability to see and learn from different coaches and different types of basketball. I loved seeing different parts of the world and meeting new people. In France, I got to scout opponents and travel to different cities. In Mexico [as head coach of Tijuana Galgos], I got to travel again and experience different cultures. It’s something I have a passion for and enjoy.”

 

Professional basketball came once again in 2022 as DuBois continued his role as a coaching staff analyst with the G League’s Santa Cruz Warriors.

 

In April 2024, DuBois brought his worldwide experience to Cal Poly, re-joining DeGeorge, Bossier and Walters on the Mott Athletics Center sideline and syncing up with Jesse Pruitt, who arrived at Cal Poly after eight seasons with Stanford, and BJ Andrews, who came with DuBois and Bossier from Division II Colorado Mesa.

 

“It all goes back to [DeGeorge] and the trust we’ve developed over the years and how much I believe in him and have learned from him,” DuBois said. “He’s played a big part in my career and I really value him as a coach and person. I think he’s a great tone setter. I knew [Cal Poly] would be an amazing opportunity because I have so much respect for him.

 

“[DeGeorge] has always been able to adapt to his teams. Sometimes the styles have changed over the years, but what I really appreciate about him is his ability to set the tone for the whole program, his professionalism and his character and how he can really develop trust within a group and coaching staff. That’s really the foundation of his programs and something I really appreciate – when you’re apart of something that everyone can collaborate and feel valued from players to coaches, its really valuable.”