Men's Basketball

Anthony Medina: "Passing Torches and Breaking Records" BOLD Interview

University of St. Thomas alumnus Anthony Medina was hired in the summer of 2015 to take the reins of the UST men’s basketball program. He is the second head coach in the history of the current program, having succeeded his former coach, Todd Smith.

Through his first five seasons as the head coach of the Celts, Medina compiled an 86-61 record. In 2019-20, he led the Celts to their best season in program history, as UST went 24-2 and claimed the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference regular-season title in the program’s first season as member institution of the conference and the NCAA’s Division III.

The end of the 2019-20 season also brought an appearance in the United States Collegiate Athletic Association’s Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament. Medina guided the team to the program’s first victory in a national tournament, defeating the Apprentice School in the first round of the event.

The Celts’ 2019-20 season was a continuation of the team’s success from the previous year. Medina guided the Celts to the 2019 Red River Athletic Conference tournament championship – the third in team history – as well as an appearance in the NAIA Men’s Division I Tournament, the last for the Celts before beginning transition into the NCAA.

In 2020-21, Medina led the Celts to a third straight conference title. In a year haunted with COVID-19 protocols and restrictions, Medina and the Celts posted an 11-4 record and won the SCAC Conference Tournament.  

A 2012 graduate of UST, Medina earned his Master’s of Applied Science in Sports and Fitness Management from Missouri Western State University in 2014. While serving as a graduate assistant for MWSU’s men’s basketball team, Medina’s primary duties included player development, recruiting, scouting, academic success and community outreach. He recruited two All-Conference players and organized many service projects for the Men's Basketball team.

Medina’s coaching resume also includes seven summers working for Hall of Fame basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski at Duke Basketball Camp. He also served as the program director of the CUTtheNETS Basketball Academy in The Woodlands, Texas. Following his graduation from MWSU, Medina served as a varsity assistant coach at Oak Ridge High School north of Houston.

A standout basketball player during his UST career, Medina twice earned All-Red River Athletic Conference accolades and shot 40 percent from 3-point range for his collegiate career. At the conclusion of his career, Medina was UST’s all-time leader in points, rebounds, minutes played, games played, and 3-pointers made.

Medina graduated from the Woodlands High School after moving from El Paso, Texas.