The ECU men’s basketball team announced the additions of two members to its coaching staff.
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Photo credit: (ECU Sports Information photo illustration)
East Carolina Men’s Basketball has made two final additions to its staff for the upcoming 2026-27 season in Tyler Johnson and Jackson Stepanian according to an announcement from head coach Michael Schwartz on Thursday.
Johnson joins the Pirates as assistant coach/director of player development after spending the 2025-26 season as an assistant coach at his alma mater, Fresno State. In his one season on the bench with the Bulldogs, Johnson assisted the coaching staff with individual player development and skill enhancement while also mentoring players on leadership. He also brings a wealth of experience from his nine-year professional basketball career, including stints with the Miami Heat, Phoenix Suns, Brooklyn Nets, Philadelphia 76ers, and San Antonio Spurs. Johnson played alongside Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh during his time with the Heat and was a part of two playoff seasons in Miami. In his two seasons with the Nets, Johnson played with the “Big Three” of Kevin Durant, James Harden and Kyrie Irving and helped lead the Nets to back-to-back playoff appearances. In addition to his NBA tenure, Johnson also competed overseas in the NBL.
“We are excited about finalizing our coaching staff as we get ready to start our summer training camp,” Schwartz said. “Tyler Johnson will make a strong impact on our players both on and off the court. His NBA experience and knowledge of what it takes to make and be successful at the highest level is invaluable for our guys. Tyler always played with elite competitiveness, passion and feel for the game and now he will infuse that same energy as a coach in our program. We are thrilled to welcome Tyler and his family to Greenville.”
Johnson played at Fresno State from 2010-14, where he emerged as a key leader for the Bulldogs and was a two-time All-Mountain West selection. He finished his collegiate career ranked among the program’s top performers in scoring, assists, and steals. He is currently ranked 20th all-time in program history with 1,346 career points. Schwartz was an assistant coach on the Bulldogs’ staff for three of Johnson’s collegiate seasons (2011-14) and helped mentor Johnson to All-Mountain West Conference Second Team honors as a senior.
Stepanian enters his first season with the Pirates as the team’s video coordinator after spending four years at Rhode Island as an assistant video coordinator and student manager where he helped oversee and lead the team’s student managers and participated in staff meetings regarding practice preparation and game planning. Stepanian also has experience working with USA Basketball as he handled practice film for the U16, U17 and U18 teams as well as the 3×3 Men’s and Women’s Olympic Teams. Stepanian earned his degree in sports media and communications from Rhode Island in May 2026.
“Jackson Stepanian comes to us with strong experiences as he begins his coaching career here at ECU,” Schwartz added. “He has worked with and been a part of a successful program and staff at the University of Rhode Island. His experiences there, along with USA Basketball and Nike EYBL will be beneficial in his role here within our program. We are looking forward to his enthusiasm and work ethic making a positive contribution to our staff.”