The Cal Poly men’s basketball program officially welcomes back Omar Lowery with the former Mustang assistant coach returning to Mott Athletics Center as associate head coach.
An assistant coach with Cal Poly from 2009-13, Lowery most recently served as an assistant at Butler (2017-22), where he helped the Bulldogs to the 2018 NCAA Tournament second round, a pair of 20-win seasons and a 57-21 combined home record inside Hinkle Fieldhouse.
As Butler’s assistant coach, Lowery was involved in all aspects of the program, including recruiting, skill development and scouting. Working primarily with Butler’s post players, Lowery also helped Butler qualify for the 2019 NIT while the Bulldogs finished the shortened 2019-20 season 22-9 overall and included in both the AP and Coaches Top 25 polls.
“I’m extremely excited about the addition of coach Lowery to our staff,” fourth-year Mustang head coach John Smith said. “He’s ascended in this business under some of the best coaching minds. His experience and knowledge of Cal Poly, having previously coached here, makes for an unbelievable hire. His loyalty and reputation as a tireless worker and recruiter are all attributes I was looking for in this position. His familiarity with this community is just another asset and is already felt on campus.”
Lowery spent one season with Milwaukee (2016-17) prior to Butler as the program reached the Horizon League Tournament championship game. With Sam Houston State (2014-16), Lowery helped lead the program 44 combined victories and a pair of postseason appearances. He spent the 2013-14 season as an assistant with San Jose State after departing Cal Poly.
As Cal Poly’s assistant coach and recruiting coordinator (2009-13), Lowery helped produce the most notable five-season stretch in the program’s Division I history. Cal Poly’s second-place finish in the 2010-11 Big West Conference standings remains the program’s best showing. A season later, Cal Poly made the first of three successive Big West Tournament semifinal appearances. The 2012-13 Mustang squad won 18 games for a second straight season, produced a program record 12 Big West victories, defeated No. 11 UCLA to earn the program’s first and only win against an AP Top 25 ranked opponent and, in qualifying for the CollegeInsider.com Tournament, made the program’s first postseason appearance at the Division I level.
A 2002 graduate of Concordia (WI) University, Lowery’s collegiate stops also include Texas State (2006-09) and two years as a graduate assistant with Eastern New Mexico (2004-06).
Lowery Returns to Cal Poly Staff as Associate Head Coach
