With second year assistant coach Jesse Pruitt adding general manager responsibilities to his resume and fellow assistant Sam Walters designated as recruiting coordinator, the Cal Poly men’s basketball staff celebrated five combined promotions and hirings during the summer of 2025.
Joining Pruitt and Walters on Cal Poly’s staff is James Andrisevic, who arrives at Mott Athletics Center as the program’s tactical analyst. Hayden Jory, a four-year letterwinner (2021-25) for the Mustangs, was recently named assistant director of operations while Yashwant Sathish Kumar was promoted from student manager to director of analytics.
Pruitt, who helped lead Cal Poly to the Big West Championship semifinals during his initial season, becomes the first general manager in program history. Alongside his coaching responsibilities, Pruitt will serve as Cal Poly’s primary contact for Name, Image and Likeness initiatives and the refinement of the Cal Poly Players’ Trust while also spearheading community relations endeavors.
“Jesse is a tremendous coach and has a great understanding of the best practices in navigating the financial side of our new reality,” second-year Cal Poly head coach Mike DeGeorge said. “He’s well prepared to take the leadership role for these additional responsibilities.”
Walters, in his upgraded recruiting coordinator role, will now be instrumental in assisting international players through the recruitment and visa processes.
“Sam has done a remarkable job helping our international student-athletes navigate the admissions process,” DeGeorge said. “His intelligence and attention to detail have made it clear he’s ready to coordinate our recruiting efforts.”
https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=true&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=eyJ0ZndfdGltZWxpbmVfbGlzdCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOltdLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X2ZvbGxvd2VyX2NvdW50X3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9iYWNrZW5kIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19yZWZzcmNfc2Vzc2lvbiI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZm9zbnJfc29mdF9pbnRlcnZlbnRpb25zX2VuYWJsZWQiOnsiYnVja2V0Ijoib24iLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X21peGVkX21lZGlhXzE1ODk3Ijp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRyZWF0bWVudCIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZXhwZXJpbWVudHNfY29va2llX2V4cGlyYXRpb24iOnsiYnVja2V0IjoxMjA5NjAwLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X3Nob3dfYmlyZHdhdGNoX3Bpdm90c19lbmFibGVkIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19kdXBsaWNhdGVfc2NyaWJlc190b19zZXR0aW5ncyI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdXNlX3Byb2ZpbGVfaW1hZ2Vfc2hhcGVfZW5hYmxlZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdmlkZW9faGxzX2R5bmFtaWNfbWFuaWZlc3RzXzE1MDgyIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRydWVfYml0cmF0ZSIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfbGVnYWN5X3RpbWVsaW5lX3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9mcm9udGVuZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9fQ%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1959671659260256318&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fgopoly.com%2Fnews%2F2025%2F9%2F3%2Fmens-basketball-cal-poly-mens-basketball-program-announces-personnel-upgrades&sessionId=fcf99dd5abba9b241fc157689839c15d7c1d8881&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px
Andrisevic arrives as Cal Poly’s first tactical analyst after a second stint as an assistant with the G League’s Santa Cruz Warriors. At Cal Poly, Andrisevic will specialize in practice and game film study and the implementation of statistical data to improve on-court efficiency.
Boasting a global resume, Andrisevic has previously served as the head coach of Japanese clubs Ibaraki Robots (2023) and Hiroshima Dragonflies (2017), the assistant coach with Japan’s Shibuya Sun Rockers (2022-23) and Kyoto Hannaryz (2016-17), an assistant with the G League’s Northern Arizona Suns (2018-19) and head coach of Slovakia’s BC Prievidza (2012) and Norway’s Asker Aliens BC (2011-12).
A letterwinner at Arizona State (2002-05), Andrisevic received his collegiate start as Drake’s director of operations as a graduate assistant (2009-11).
“James has great experience in coaching the modern game at the professional level,” DeGeorge said. “He’ll be a tremendous asset as we work to make sure we’re utilizing the best techniques and strategies in defending modern offenses.”
Jory, who completed his four-year Cal Poly playing career this past spring with 72 collegiate appearances, now provides operational support in his new role with a primary focus on player development, equipment and travel.
“Hayden showed a high-level understanding of our concepts as a player and had the respect of everyone in the locker room,” said DeGeorge of Jory, who graduated in May with a degree in sports management. “He’s going to make a tremendous coach and we’re grateful he’s starting his professional career with us.”
Upgrading his offseason stature from student manager to director of analytics, Sathish Kumar hones his focus on delivering actionable insights to the coaching staff through data analysis, software development and film breakdown while also supporting decision-making in game strategy, roster construction and player development.
“Yash showed last season his value in film breakdown and statistical analysis as a student manager,” DeGeorge said. “We’re thrilled he’ll be returning in an elevated role to help our program get to the next level.”
Returning seven letterwinners from last year’s squad that finished third among 355 NCAA Division I programs with 11.5 three-pointers per game and 19th with 82.1 points per game, Cal Poly opens preparations for the 2025-26 season on Monday, Sept. 22.