Marwan “Rock” Elrakabawy will enter his first season as the head men’s basketball coach at Trinity University during the 2025-26 season.
Coach Elrakabawy was previously at Schreiner University where he finished as the all time wins and win percentage leader in school history, guided the program to only their second Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) Championship and NCAA Tournament berth in school history, and earned 2022 SCAC Coach of the Year Honors.
In the 2024-25 season, Elrakabawy coached the Mountaineers to a historic campaign, setting a school record for conference wins and overall wins and reaching the semifinals of the SCAC Tournament. Kamden Ross was recognized as SCAC Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year in route to capturing NABC Second Team All American Honors. Two other Mountaineers also earned All-SCAC distinction: Beau Cervantes (3rd Team) and CJ Ward (Honorable Mention).
Previously, in the 2022-23 season, Coach Elrakabawy led the Mountaineers their first SCAC Championship title and NCAA Tournament berth since 2018. The Mountaineers became the first in SCAC history to defeat three higher seeds en route to capturing the conference crown - including knocking out league unbeaten and the top regionally-ranked University of St. Thomas (TX) in the semifinal. Sophomore Kamden Ross was named tournament MVP and senior Alex Dehoyos and sophomore Dylan Mackey were also named to the All-Tournament team. The year, which concluded with a 15-14 overall mark (tying a school record for wins in the NCAA era), also produced Second Team All-SCAC honors for Ross as well as All-SCAC Honorable Mention nods to Mackey, Cervantes, and Darian Gibson. The Mountaineers led the conference in assists and rebounds per game while also posting the second-best field goal percentage offense and third-best field goal percentage defense.
In 2021-22, Coach Elrakbawy’s third year at the helm, the Mountaineers completed a historic season, posting a then record tying 15-12 (12-4 SCAC) record, while posting the top field goal percentage offense and rebounding marks during conference play, as well as the second-best field goal percentage defense during league games. The year included honors for Dehoyos (First Team All-SCAC), Kamden Ross (SCAC First Year Player of the Year, All-Freshman Team), Darian Gibson (Honorable Mention All-SCAC), Bronson Evans (Honorable Mention All-SCAC), and Jalen Ned (SCAC All-Freshman Team). Further, Coach Elrakabawy was voted by his peers as the SCAC Coach of the Year as he led his squad to a three seed in the SCAC Tournament and a second conference semifinals appearance in the last three seasons.
Prior to taking the helm of the program, Coach Elrakabawy was the assistant coach for the Schreiner Men's Basketball program as well as head coach for the junior varsity team for two seasons. In the 2017-2018 season, Coach Elrakabawy assisted a Mountaineers team to what was at the time its most successful season in program history. The Mountaineers claimed the SCAC Regular Season Conference Title, the SCAC Tournament Championship, and the program's first berth to the NCAA national tournament. The season included honors for Keenan Gumbs (SCAC Player of the Year, All-SCAC First team), Blake Kelley (All-SCAC Second Team), Luis Mancillas (All-SCAC Honorable Mention), Ellis Jones (All-SCAC Honorable Mention), and Head Coach Connor Kuykendall (SCAC Coach of the Year). In the 2018-2019 season, Elrakabawy assisted a Mountaineer team that competed in the SCAC Championship with three Mountaineers (Matt Rindahl, Ellis Jones, and Paul Wells) earning All-SCAC honors.
Prior to Schreiner, Coach Elrakabawy held assistant coaching positions at Southwestern University (2016-2017), St. Edward's University (2015-2016), and Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C. (2014-2015). While at Southwestern, Coach Elrakabawy assisted a team that reached the semifinals of the SCAC Tournament. At. St. Edwards, he helped guide the Hilltoppers to an 18-12 overall record, a national ranking for the first time since 2008, and an appearance in the Heartland Conference Tournament Semifinal. While at Gallaudet, Coach Elrakabawy was an assistant to NEAC Coach of the Year Brendan Stern and part of the staff that led the Bison to an all-time program best 18 wins - a 12 win improvement from the previous season - and a top 10 nationally-ranked defense.
Coach Elrakabawy began his coaching career at the high school level as part of the coaching staff at Texas School for the Deaf in Austin, TX, where he served in various roles, including Varsity assistant and JV Head Coach for eight seasons.
Education:
Coach Elrakabawy earned a bachelor’s degree in computer sciences and a law degree from the University of Texas at Austin in 2003 and 2006 respectively.
Personal:
A native of Alexandria Egypt, Coach Elrakabawy grew up in Houston, TX. He and his wife Erin have three children: Noah, Raef, and Imogene.
