UK’s Mikhail McLean Named Head Coach of Bahamian National Team
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Kentucky men’s basketball assistant coach Mikhail McLean has been named The Bahamas National Team head coach, the organization announced on Wednesday. McLean’s tenure will begin with World Cup qualifying in July.
“It is a great honor to be named the head coach for The Bahamas Senior Men’s National Team,” McLean said. “It is something I’ve dreamed of since becoming a coach. Representing my country is something that I take immense pride in and will never take it for granted. This is particularly special for me, as I know my parents would be extremely proud.
“I want to thank Chris DeMarco for laying the foundation and putting The Bahamas in the position to compete at the highest level,” McLean said. “Our goal remains the same and that is to get this team to the World Cup and the Olympics. Our first opportunity begins this summer, and I can’t wait to get on the court and compete with our players, coaches and the support of the greatest little country in the world.”
McLean’s role with the Wildcats will not change. He will miss a few weeks of summer practice but will be with the team full-time as the fall semester begins.
“I want to also thank Coach Pope and our staff for supporting this dream,” McLean said. “Since the moment I became a Wildcat, Coach Pope has pushed us all to chase our goals and that leadership is incredibly meaningful as I take on this opportunity.”
McLean joined the Cats as an assistant coach in June of 2024. As a member of Mark Pope’s inaugural staff in 2024-25 he helped the Wildcats to a 24-12 overall record and the program’s first appearance in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament since 2019. Along the way, the Wildcats tied an NCAA record with eight wins over Associated Press Top 15 teams, became the first team in program history to finish the season with six players averaging double-digit points and set a program record for the most 3-pointers in a single season with 341.
He worked closely with center, Amari Williams, who had a remarkable season which included registering just the fourth triple-double in program history, posting 10 double-doubles and averaging 39.6 points/rebounds/assists per 40 minutes, the eighth most of any player in the country. Williams was tied with Lamont Butler for the most assists (115), the tallest player in program history to lead the team in that category. Williams, along with Koby Brea, were selected in the 2025 NBA Draft.
Kentucky earned a 22-14 record in year two with McLean on staff. The Cats faced one of the nation’s toughest schedules and were riddled with injuries, but McLean guided freshman Malachi Moreno to a breakout season. Moreno earned All-Southeastern Conference Freshman Team honors and led the team in rebounds, blocks and field-goal percentage. He finished the season averaging 7.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.5 blocks per game.
“Mikhail McLean is one of the bright young coaching stars in basketball right now,” Pope said. “He is the perfect person to lead this star-studded Bahamas National Team.”
McLean is a native of The Bahamas and has been a part of the coaching staff since 2021.
Team Bahamas made history in 2024 by being one game shy of qualifying for the Olympics after a championship loss to Spain on their home court. Before that, Team Bahamas defeated both the No. 15 and No. 20 ranked teams in the world in Poland and Finland, while also tallying a victory over Lebanon in Olympic qualifying. In 2023, the Bahamas defeated Argentina, who ranked fourth in the world, twice during the Olympic Pre-Qualifying Tournament.
Team Bahamas will begin its final window in the first round of competition for the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup Americas Qualifiers. The team needs two victories to confirm qualification for the second round.
The opening game will take place on July 3 against Jamaica before taking on Puerto Rico on July 6. Both games will be played at the Kendal G.L. Isaacs National Gymnasium in Nassau, The Bahamas.
Team Bahamas is tied with Puerto Rico with a 1-3 record and five points. Canada has already secured one of three available qualifying spots for round two, leading Group B with an undefeated 4-0 record and eight points. Jamaica remains in second position with a 2-2 record and six points.
Only the top three teams in the group will advance to round two of the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup Americas Qualifiers.
Prior to joining UK’s staff, McClean spent three seasons at Lamar as an assistant coach where the Cardinals steadily improved year-to-year, culminating in a record-breaking 19-14 season in 2023-24.
The Cardinals’ 19 wins were their most in NCAA Division I since the 2011-12 season and the second most since the 1987-88 campaign. Lamar tallied 12 Southland Conference wins, which were the most for the program in more than five seasons. The Cardinals led the conference in scoring and were led by National Association of Basketball Coaches All-District guard selection Chris Pryor. Pryor averaged 11.5 points per game and ranked among the league’s leaders in assists and steals.
McLean had a hand in Lamar’s rise as the team’s offensive coordinator. He was also responsible for on-court player development with the guards and wings.
A former standout player for Houston, McLean was a four-year letterwinner for the Cougars and appeared in 101 games. He was a team captain and a five-time Dean’s List selection. McLean completed both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Houston in four years.
Following his playing career, McLean joined the Cougars’ staff as a graduate assistant before transitioning into the role of assistant director of player development. He was part of Houston’s staff for six seasons, helping the Cougars to American Athletic Conference titles in back-to-back seasons in 2019 and 2020. Houston advanced to the Sweet 16 in each of his final two seasons with the program and made a run to the 2021 Final Four.
At Houston, McLean’s duties included opponent scouting and player development. He worked with three NBA Draft selections, including Marcus Sasser, Quentin Grimes and Damyean Dotson.
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