VANCOUVER – The UBC Thunderbirds are pleased to announce standout alumnus Phil Jalalpoor is returning to the fold after being hired as a new full-time assistant coach for the men's basketball team.
 
The 30-year-old native of Schifferstadt, Germany spent three impressive seasons with the T-Birds as the starting point guard from 2015-16 to 2017-18 and was recognized with several awards before graduating with a Bachelor of Kinesiology degree. Upon graduation, Jalalpoor moved to Europe to begin a decorated professional career on the international stage that started in Spain but also included stops in Austria, Iceland and Germany where he announced his retirement at the end of the 2023-24 campaign with Medi Bayreuth of the German Pro A league. As Jalalpoor embarks on the next chapter of his basketball journey, he's delighted to be reunited alongside the man that recruited him to join the T-Birds 10 years ago, long-time head coach Kevin Hanson.
 
"I'm ecstatic to be returning to the Thunderbirds men's basketball program," said Jalalpoor. "I'm really looking forward to working alongside an outstanding head coach in Kevin Hanson and to do it where I once played is an incredible opportunity. It feels like coming full circle, and I couldn't be more excited about the fit."
 
"We are thrilled to have Phil join our coaching staff," added UBC head coach Kevin Hanson. "Phil has dedicated the first chapter of his life to playing the game of basketball. He has travelled the world in the pursuit of reaching his goals. His early experiences as a player took him from Germany to the United States, to Olds College in Alberta, and then to UBC. The heights he then reached playing professionally in Europe combined with more valuable experience at the Olympic level proves his constant pursuit of excellence as a player and will provide a strong philosophical basis as he enters a career in coaching."


 
Even though Jalalpoor is just 30 years old he's already spent a lifetime soaking up all things basketball, beginning at the age of six in Germany, where he rose through the ranks and was developed in the European system before setting his sights across the Atlantic. After completing his high school education in Germany, Jalalpoor moved to the United States to play for Lower Columbia Valley College (NWAC), in Washington State, before transferring to Olds College (ACAC) in Alberta, for the 2014-2015 season.
 
His dynamic early basketball resume more than adequately set him up for success to be an impact player at the beginning of and throughout his time with the T-Birds from 2015 to 2018, during his three-seasons at UBC, the team enjoyed a conference record of 52-8 and an overall record of 87-25.


 
Jalalpoor was recognized with many honors while sporting the blue and gold, earning Academic All Canadian in each of his three-seasons (2016, 2017, 2018), winning the Canada West Ken Shields Student-Athlete Community Award in 2016-17 and selected as a Canada West Second Team All Star in 2017-18.
 
In his final U SPORTS season Jalalpoor finished second on the 'Birds only to Connor Morgan in points per game with 17.7 while also being recognized for his tremendous career at the 2018 Big Block awards, earning the Bobby Gaul trophy as UBC's outstanding graduating male athlete.


 
After making a name for himself at the collegiate level, Jalalpoor set his sights on the professional circuit, moving back to Europe where he signed for CB Clavijo in the LEB Gold, second division of the Spanish basketball league. Following one season in Spain he joined SKN St. Pölten in Austria, where the floor general averaged 18.6 points, 6.4 rebounds and led the league in assists with an average of 6.9 per game in 2019-20.

Jalalpoor's basketball tour came full circle when he returned to his homeland and signed for Medi Bayreuth in the prestigious German Basketball League (BBL), where he played from 2020 to 2022. His time with Bayreuth included a season in the continental FIBA Europe Cup competition. Jalalpoor then spent the 2022-23 season at two separate stops in Iceland, beginning with KR Reykjavik followed by some time with UMFN Njardvik before returning to Germany for a final campaign in 2023-24.


 
Jalalpoor has enjoyed a plethora of significant experiences throughout his basketball life but the undoubted pinnacle of his career to date was his selection to represent the Iranian national team at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan. There, he often found himself matched up one-on-one with some of the best players in the world including NBA superstars Kevin Durant and Damian Lillard when Iran took on Team USA.


 
"The prospect of coaching is an exciting challenge for me," continued Jalalpoor. "I believe in fostering a supportive and collaborative environment for today's student-athletes. Drawing from my recent experiences as a player and my exposure to various competitive levels internationally, I hope to bring fresh ideas and philosophies to the team that will contribute to their growth both on and off the court."


 
Coach Hanson is entering his 25^th season in charge of the T-Birds and already holds the record as the all-time leader in Canada West regular season coaching wins with 363 and counting. He's also the leader in U SPORTS victories among active coaches across the country with 535. The veteran coach is very much looking forward to bringing in someone with such a high basketball IQ, but also such a quality overall character to help influence the program.
 
"We are very fortunate to be adding someone with Phil's background and experiences," concluded Hanson. "He has been exposed to a wide variety of coaches and will bring a European flavour of tactical and strategic concepts. Our players will really benefit from Phil's work ethic and European style of play. Phil has literally played at every level of the game from Junior College, College, University, professional, and international at the Olympic level. While at UBC Phil excelled on the court and also in the classroom."
 
Adding to the excitement of Jalalpoor returning to UBC for his first season in the new role includes UBC hosting the 2025 U SPORTS men's and women's Basketball Championships, thanks to title sponsor INDOCHINO, and presenting sponsor Victory Creative Group. The T-Birds men's and women's basketball programs will enjoy an automatic berth and It will mark the first time in U SPORTS history that a single university will play host to both the women's and men's Final 8 basketball tournaments, taking place from Mach 13 through 16^th, 2025.
 
Of all the life-altering experiences during Jalalpoor's time at UBC beyond the education, competition and camaraderie with teammates, perhaps the most significant outcome while on the Point Grey campus was the T-Birds love story that blossomed between him and fellow standout Kinesiology student-athlete Mackenzie Siddall. Siddall, is an alumna of the Thunderbirds Softball team where she was a pitcher and outfielder along with being a team captain during her four seasons with the program from 2015 to 2018. Siddall and Jalalpoor were married in 2020 and are looking forward to relocating from Germany back to Vancouver with their six-month old daughter to begin the new job in late May.
 
Jalalpoor will join a UBC men's basketball staff that includes fellow full-time assistant-coach and another bright young basketball mind in North Vancouver native Taylor Williams, who returns for his second season under coach Hanson in 2024-25. Going forward the trio look forward to collaborating and continuing the winning tradition of T-Birds basketball at UBC.