SPRINGFIELD -- Missouri State men's basketball coach Cuonzo Martin announced today (May 7) the addition of Nick Couluris as assistant coach on his staff for the upcoming season.

Couluris spent the 2025-26 campaign at Southwest Mississippi Community College in Summit, Miss. where he helped the Bears to a 17-14 campaign and conference runner-up showing in his only season.

"Nick brings great energy, experience and passion to our program," said Martin. "He has a strong background in player development and has built meaningful relationships throughout the basketball community. More importantly, he understands the value of hard work, accountability and daily work habits in helping young men grow on and off the court. We're excited to welcome Nick and believe he'll make a tremendous impact on our players, staff and program."
 
During his coaching career, Couluris has helped send over 150 players to collegiate careers with more than 60 moving on to the Division I level. More than 15 of those are now playing professionally.

Prior to his season at SMCC, he spent two seasons as associate head coach for the national high school team at Victory Rock Prep, in Bradenton, Fla, from 2023-25. He helped place three players to the Division I level, while helping his squad to a 40-22 ledger in two seasons. The 2024 season culminated in an SIAA state semifinal run. During his tenure, all 10 upperclassmen were placed collegiately.
 
Couluris spent the 2022-23 season at First Love Christian in Scotland, Pa, where he coached the national high school and post-grad teams to a combined 44-6 ledger. The post-grad team finished the year ranked No. 8 in the country and received a National Prep Championship bid. Over 40 players were sent to the collegiate level, with 11 placed at Division I programs, including Tylik Weeks who landed at Southern Miss after becoming Southwest Mississippi's all-time leading scorer with 1,128 points.
 
From 2021 to 2022, he was head coach and program director at PRISE Academy in Columbia, Mo., which finished with a 28-11 record. All nine upperclassmen were placed collegiately, with four earning spots at the Division I level.
 
Couluris also coached at Springfield (Mass.) Commonwealth Academy, where he served as head basketball coach, as well as dean of students and admissions director, from 2019-2021. In two years he had a combined record of 43-6. The 2019-20 squad was ranked No. 8 nationally and received a National Prep Championship bid with standouts Femi Odukale, Enoch Cheeks, Aaron Gray and Isaiah Richards, all of whom signed to play professionally. Commonwealth's 2020-21  season was cut short due to COVID, but included an 8-0 and No. 3 national ranking with all 15 players signing college scholarships. 

Couluris' first stint in Florida saw him with the national high school program at Potter's House Christian Academy for the 2018-19 school year. He served as associate head coach and recruiting director for the Jacksonville school. All 11 upperclassmen went on to play collegiately, seven with Division I programs, with a trip to the national quarterfinals.

The New York native began his career at DME Sports Academy in Daytona Beach, Fla,. where he studied under the late Lance Blanks from 2017-18. He was the general manager of basketball and oversaw all recruiting and programming. The national high school program elevated to national prominence in one year, with 15 players going on to play at the Division I level.
 
Couluris completed his undergraduate degree at St. John's University in 2012 with degrees in Sport Management and Business. While at St. John's he began an internship with one of the most prominent grassroots basketball entities in the world, Five-Star Basketball.
 
Upon completion of his studies, Couluris accepted a job offer as Director for Five-Star Basketball, becoming the youngest director in the company's 50-year history. Nick traveled across the country recruiting and training over 10,000+ players, from more than 30 countries.
Notable NBA players coached at Five-Star include Emmanuel Mudiay, Myles Turner, Karl Anthony Towns, Trae Young, Dwayne Bacon and Jonathan Isaacs.

His hire is contingent upon formal approval by the Missouri State University Board of Governors at its next scheduled meeting. 

Couluris replaces Dr. Carson Cunningham on the Missouri State staff. Cunningham recently accepted a coaching position at Air Force after two seasons on Martin's Missouri State staff.