Boise State men’s basketball head coach Leon Rice announced the hiring of R-Jay Barsh as assistant coach, Tuesday.

Barsh, originally from Tacoma, Wash., spent the last seven seasons as the head coach at Southeastern University (NAIA) in Lakeland, Fla.

“Player development has always been an important part of our program, so we searched the country far and wide and feel like we hit a home run with the hiring of R-Jay Barsh,” Rice said. “Our student-athletes are going to benefit tremendously from his coaching background and track record of developing players.”

While with SEU, Barsh led the Fire to three NAIA Division II National Tournament appearances, the first for the program in school history. In his second season, SEU went 27-7 and reached the NAIA Fab Four during its first postseason tournament run, ultimately earning Barsh a nod as a finalist for the Don Meyer National Coach of the Year Award.

Barsh also led the Fire to tournament appearances following the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons.

“I couldn’t be more thrilled to join this staff,” Barsh said. “I wasn’t necessarily looking for a new job, but the opportunity to work for Coach Rice, to be part of this program and live in this city – this was something I couldn’t pass up. I am excited to get to work, and can’t wait for what is in store here at Boise State.”

Barsh helped lead TCC to three Western Region titles in four seasons, and an NWAACC championship in 2012. The Titans also made the Elite 8 in the NWAACC Tournament in 2009. Prior to his tenure at TCC, he spent one season at Lincoln High School (Tacoma), where he helped guide the school to the state’s Final Four and a record of 26-5.

Barsh also served as an assistant coach at the University of Puget Sound, his alma mater, from 2005-07. In his first season with the Loggers, the program finished with a 26-5 mark and a NCAA D-III Elite Eight appearance.

Barsh played collegiately for TCC from 2001-03, where he helped lead the Titans to a record of 30-3 and an NWAACC title (2001-02). He was an all-conference honoree the following season.

Barsh earned his bachelor’s degree in communications from UPS in 2007.

He and his wife, Christy, have a son (Carson), and are expecting their second child.

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