Penn State men’s basketball associate head coach Jamal Brunt was tabbed as a Top 100 Most Impactful High Major Assistant, Silver Waves Media announced on Monday morning.

Brunt has spent the last three seasons in Happy Valley under head coach Mike Rhoades’ staff. The Baltimore, Maryland, native followed Rhoades to Penn State from VCU. Brunt has coached at his alma mater, Randolph-Macon, Richmond, and Miami before VCU and Penn State.

Brunt, who focuses on coaching the defense, led the Nittany Lions to the second-most steals and third in turnovers forced per game in the Big Ten last season. Brunt guided Ace Baldwin Jr. to his second-straight Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year honor in 2025 after he followed Rhoades and Baldwin to Penn State from VCU.

The associate head coach was also instrumental in landing Kayden Mingo as the highest-rated recruit in Penn State basketball history.

About the Author

CJ Gill

CJ was a broadcast journalism student at Penn State from 2022-26 and was the sports editor at Onward State. He's a huge Phillies and Steelers fan, which is odd. He's probably drinking a beer with his friends and watching Penn State football right now. You can email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter @CJGill14.

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