Photo by: Eric Becker @ericbecker__
Sanders-Frison Hired as Director of Player Development, Recruitment and External Relations
07/29/26 | Men's Basketball
EUGENE, Ore. — Oregon men's basketball head coach Dana Altman has announced the hiring of Markhuri Sanders-Frison as the program's Director of Player Development, Recruitment and External Relations. The Ducks have also announced that veteran assistant coach Kevin McKenna has retired after 16 seasons on the Oregon bench.
Sanders-Frison was a graduate assistant with the Ducks last season, after spending the 2024-25 season as an assistant coach at Idaho, where he also oversaw player development while helping guide the Vandals. Prior to his time in Moscow, he served as a graduate assistant with Oregon from 2022-24. Sanders-Frison also serves as the player development coach for the Chinese Senior National Team.
During his time in Eugene, Sanders-Frison helped develop Oregon standouts and all-conference honorees Nate Bittle, Jermaine Couisnard and N'Faly Dante. He was on staff when the Ducks captured the 2024 Pac-12 Tournament championship and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Before beginning his coaching career, Sanders-Frison played professionally for nine seasons in Mexico, Australia and Japan. He won back-to-back NBDL championships with Tokyo Excellence in Japan and earned Finals MVP honors in 2015 and led the league in rebounding twice.
As a collegiate player, Sanders-Frison starred at Cal after beginning his career at Eastern Arizona College and South Plains College. He served as a senior captain for the Golden Bears and helped lead Cal to the 2010 Pac-10 regular-season championship while finishing as the team's leading rebounder. He earned his bachelor's degree in American Studies from Cal in 2011 and later completed a master's degree in higher education leadership from Oregon.
A Portland, Oregon native, Sanders-Frison graduated from Jefferson High School in 2006. He and his partner Molly have one daughter, Berkeley.
McKenna joined the program prior to the 2010-11 season and played an integral role in one of the most successful stretches in program history, helping lead Oregon to nine NCAA Tournament appearances, five regular-season conference championships, four conference tournament titles, five Sweet Sixteens, two Elite Eights and the program's first Final Four appearance in 78 years in 2017. McKenna also was instrumental in the development of numerous all-conference players, NBA draft picks and professional players during his tenure in Eugene.
Sanders-Frison was a graduate assistant with the Ducks last season, after spending the 2024-25 season as an assistant coach at Idaho, where he also oversaw player development while helping guide the Vandals. Prior to his time in Moscow, he served as a graduate assistant with Oregon from 2022-24. Sanders-Frison also serves as the player development coach for the Chinese Senior National Team.
During his time in Eugene, Sanders-Frison helped develop Oregon standouts and all-conference honorees Nate Bittle, Jermaine Couisnard and N'Faly Dante. He was on staff when the Ducks captured the 2024 Pac-12 Tournament championship and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Before beginning his coaching career, Sanders-Frison played professionally for nine seasons in Mexico, Australia and Japan. He won back-to-back NBDL championships with Tokyo Excellence in Japan and earned Finals MVP honors in 2015 and led the league in rebounding twice.
As a collegiate player, Sanders-Frison starred at Cal after beginning his career at Eastern Arizona College and South Plains College. He served as a senior captain for the Golden Bears and helped lead Cal to the 2010 Pac-10 regular-season championship while finishing as the team's leading rebounder. He earned his bachelor's degree in American Studies from Cal in 2011 and later completed a master's degree in higher education leadership from Oregon.
A Portland, Oregon native, Sanders-Frison graduated from Jefferson High School in 2006. He and his partner Molly have one daughter, Berkeley.
McKenna joined the program prior to the 2010-11 season and played an integral role in one of the most successful stretches in program history, helping lead Oregon to nine NCAA Tournament appearances, five regular-season conference championships, four conference tournament titles, five Sweet Sixteens, two Elite Eights and the program's first Final Four appearance in 78 years in 2017. McKenna also was instrumental in the development of numerous all-conference players, NBA draft picks and professional players during his tenure in Eugene.
Players Mentioned
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