Diarra relishes new role
When Mamadou Diarra decided to end his playing career three years ago and continue with the UConn men’s basketball team as a student assistant coach, it wasn’t an easy choice.
“It was definitely a tough decision,” Diarra recalled, “but truthfully, the best decision I’ve made in my life.”
Diarra has remained with the program as both a student and grad assistant coach the past three seasons. Now, he will officially join the UConn staff.
Diarra has been named the team’s director of player development, taking over the role held the past few seasons by Taliek Brown, who has joined Rick Pitino’s staff at Iona as an assistant.
Diarra’s main role will be similar to his duties as a student/grad assistant: making sure the players are taken care of, supporting them as best he can, bringing in different speakers to talk to the team on occasion, etc.
“And make sure they keep growing,” Diarra added. “Basically, be like a big brother.”
Ironically, Diarra literally will be the big brother to one of the new Huskies — Hassan Diarra, a rising junior point guard who transferred to UConn after two seasons at Texas A&M.
“That’s great, man. I’ve always been a fan of his,” Mamadou said. “I feel he has the opportunity to be really good here. So, hopefully he continues to work and makes it happen.”
“I like this team,” he added. “We all work hard.”
What type of role will Hassan play this season?
“Roles have not been defined yet, but what he brings to the table is hard work, leadership, and a competitive edge that I feel every team needs, no matter what,” Mamadou noted. “So, I’m sure he’ll find a way out there and continue to be that here for this program.”
The most exciting part of his new role, Mamadou said, was
simply remaining with the program.
“I’ve been here for six years, I love being a part of it, seeing what the program has gotten back to. Being there for those guys is the best part for me.”
Diarra won’t be able to help out on the practice floor, though a potential new NCAA rule change could change that. Someday, he would like to be a head coach of a program.
“I feel like this is a great step in the right direction to get me to that goal,” he said. “But I’m not really too focused on that at the moment. I just want to be the best at this job right in front of me, and just be there for the program.”
And that’s made the decision he made three years ago look all the better.
“At some point for all of us, the ball will stop bouncing, whether we like it or not,” Diarra noted. “Mine, unfortunately, came a lot sooner than others. But that being said, having the opportunity to stay with the program at that time, and being able to make that decision in that moment was the best thing I did. To see it’s brought me to this point, it’s been amazing.”