LAS VEGAS, NM — New Mexico Highlands University men's basketball head coach Scott Waterman has announced the addition of four assistant coaches to his staff for the 2026–27 season.
Chris Lewis,
Brandon Tillis, Omeed Fakhim, and
Todd Zollinger bring a wealth of experience spanning professional basketball, international coaching, and player development to the Cowboys program.
Chris Lewis – Assistant Coach
Chris Lewis joined Coach Waterman's staff in historic Las Vegas in the summer of 2026.
Prior to New Mexico Highlands, Lewis served as head coach at Weatherford College since 2021. He previously spent three years as an assistant coach under former Weatherford head coach Mark Osina, joining the coaching staff in 2018.
Lewis also served as an assistant coach at North Lake College in Irving, Texas, for five seasons, helping lead the Blazers to a NJCAA Division III national championship in 2017. He also spent one year as an assistant coach at the University of Providence in Great Falls, Montana.
As a player, Lewis competed for four seasons at the University of San Diego, earning a spot on the West Coast Conference All-Freshman Team in 2006 and being named a 2007–08 Scholar Athlete of the Year. His team upset the University of Connecticut in the opening round of the 2008 NCAA Tournament.
Brandon Tillis – Assistant Coach / Player Development
Brandon Tillis was hired as assistant men's basketball coach for the 2026–27 season with an emphasis on player development. He brings a diverse background spanning professional, international, and collegiate basketball.
Most recently, Tillis served as a player development coach for the Shanxi FeiJiu Brave Dragons of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) through the 2025–26 season. Working with NBA and international talent including Hamidou Diallo, Daishen Nix, and Kyle Guy, he helped guide the team to the CBA Playoffs and a runner-up finish in the inaugural CBA Cup Championship.
Tillis also played a key role in developing Chinese standout Jia Mingru, who earned CBA Sixth Man of the Year honors.
In 2024, Tillis was selected to join the Sacramento Kings California Classic coaching staff, gaining valuable experience alongside accomplished coaches including NBA champion Mike Brown, Doug Christie, Alvin Gentry, and Lindsey Harding.
From 2020–24, Tillis co-led Wasserman's NBA Pre-Draft training classes alongside renowned skill development coach Olin Simplis, "The Guard Whisperer." During that time, he worked with elite prospects and professionals including Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Evan Mobley, Stephon Castle, and Payton Pritchard, while also training NBA, WNBA, international, and collegiate players throughout the summer.
A four-year player at Sonoma State University, Tillis brings a unique combination of collegiate playing experience, professional player development expertise, and international coaching experience to the Cowboys program.
Omeed Fakhimi – Assistant Coach
Omeed Fakhimi was hired as an assistant men's basketball coach for the 2026–27 season.
Over the past five years, Fakhimi has specialized in international player placement and scouting, successfully placing student-athletes at high schools, junior colleges, and NCAA Division I and Division II programs across the country.
His high school coaching career includes positions at three competitive programs in California. Fakhimi has served on the coaching staff at Fairmont Preparatory Academy, where he contributed to player development and film breakdown. He also worked at Orange Lutheran High School, focusing on player development, and at San Gabriel Academy, where he assisted with film analysis and skill development.
A former collegiate player, Fakhimi competed at both Academy of Art University under Coach Waterman and Holy Names University in Oakland, California. He graduated in 2021 with a bachelor's degree in communication.
Fakhimi brings a unique combination of playing experience, high school coaching expertise, and a strong network in international player recruitment and development to the Cowboys program.
Todd Zollinger - Assistant Coach
Todd Zollinger joins the New Mexico Highlands University Men's Basketball program as Recruiting Coordinator, bringing nearly a decade of experience in basketball coaching, scouting, recruiting, and operations. He has extensive relationships throughout the junior college and collegiate basketball landscape.
From 2019–2026, Zollinger worked in scouting and operations with JUCO advocate and Verbal Commits, helping organize and facilitate events including the JA48, JUCO Jamborees, and unsigned sophomore showcases. Through this work, he helped facilitate the recruitment of numerous junior college players to four-year universities.
Prior to joining Highlands, Zollinger served as Head Girls Varsity Basketball Coach at Los Alamos High School from 2023–2025. During the 2023–24 season, he led Los Alamos to a 17–13 record, a district tournament championship, and a state playoff berth while coaching a First Team All-State player. The following season, he coached multiple All-District players and led the program to another district tournament victory.
Zollinger also served as Assistant Varsity Coach and Head Freshman Boys Basketball Coach at American Leadership Academy-Ironwood. In 2022–23, he helped lead the program to its first state semifinal appearance while coaching multiple All-Region, All-Conference, and All-State players.
The Cowboys are in their preseason workout as they prepare for the 2026-2027 season.
