The burgeoning rivalry between Arizona and Texas Tech in the Big 12 now includes a coach switching sides.
The Red Raiders have announced the hiring of UA assistant Rem Bakamus, who had been part of Tommy Lloyd’s staff since his first season in 2021-22. He is the second assistant to leave the Wildcats since the end of last season, the other being Steve Robinson who retired in April after 42 years of coaching.
The 31-year-old Bakamus served as Arizona’s Director of Player Development for three seasons before being elevated to a full-time assistant coach in 2024-25. He’ll be in the same role at Texas Tech, which also hired Duncan Bacon as Associate Director of Operations.
A walk-on at Gonzaga when Lloyd was an assistant there, Bakamus played for the Bulldogs from 2012-17 and was on the 2016-17 team that reached the NCAA title game. From there he joined Baylor as a graduate assistant and was part of the Bears’ staff when they won the national championship in 2021.
I’m leaving Tucson with a heart full of gratitude. I’m forever indebted to Coach Lloyd for believing in me and giving me so many opportunities to grow and develop as a coach! To the staff, players, managers, and fans I love y’all. pic.twitter.com/yWWj0NkcEM
— Rem Bakamus (@Rem_Bakamus) August 1, 2025
Bakamus’ departure leaves the UA short one assistant with just over three months until the 2025-26 season begins. Lloyd had previously filled Robinson’s spot with former Texas assistant Brandon Chappell while retaining associate head coach Jack Murphy and assistants TJ Benson and Ken Nakagawa.
Arizona took two of three games from Texas Tech last season, its first in the Big 12 Conference, each winning on its home court before the Wildcats beat the Red Raiders in the conference tournament semifinals. Tech made it further in the NCAA Tournament, though, reaching the Elite Eight compared to Arizona topping out at the Sweet 16.
Lloyd and Tech coach Grant McCasland recently finished up a second summer working together with USA Basketball. McCasland was an assistant under Lloyd for the U19 team that won the FIBA World Cup in Switzerland.