Report: Steve Lutz Hiring George Mason’s Mike Ekanem as Assistant Coach

Steve Lutz is reportedly adding another Texan to his staff.

Lutz is set to hire George Mason assistant Mike Ekanem to his Oklahoma State staff, according to Jon Rothstein. Ekanem joined George Mason’s staff in April of 2023. Before that he was an assistant at Sam Houston, and he has also spent time in other roles at Arkansas, Texas A&M, Nevada and Memphis.

Ekanem shares an alma mater with Lutz in Texas Lutheran. Ekanem was a 2005 grad and was an all-conference basketball player for the Bulldogs before playing pro ball overseas.

After his playing days wrapped up, Ekanem spent six years (2007-13) working for Spurs Sports and Entertainment as a basketball operation assistant for the Spurs. He was also director of video and athletic performance for the San Antonio Stars of the WNBA.

He started his college coaching career as an assistant in the women’s game with Louisiana Tech before spending four years with the Memphis men’s program, spending time as a special assistant, and video and recruiting coordinator.

In 2018 he made a move to Reno, serving as a multimedia specialist at Nevada before returning to his home state and spending two seasons as Texas A&M’s director of scouting. He was then Arkansas’ director of player development for the 2021-22 season — a year the Razorbacks made the Elite Eight.

Ekanem then earned his assistant opportunity with Sam Houston for the 2022-23 season before his stint with George Mason. His year with the Bearkats saw Sam Houston go 26-8 — earning an NIT bid. Sam Houston opened that season with a 52-51 win against Oklahoma in Norman. George Mason went 20-12 this past season with Ekanem on staff.

Ekanem would join a staff that includes James Miller (associate head coach), Robert Guster (assistant), Keiton Page (assistant) and Isaiah Brooks-Sena (director of scouting and analytics).