Head Coach Marty Richter Welcomes Thomas Mandell to His Staff
8/25/2026 11:54:00 AM | Men's Basketball
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – USC Upstate head men's basketball coach has announced the addition of Thomas Mandell to the Spartan coaching staff as an assistant coach with a focus on operations ahead of the 2026-27 season.
Mandell arrives in Spartanburg after most recently serving as an assistant coach at Mercy University, where he gained experience in several areas of the program, including player development, scouting, recruiting evaluation and team operations. He also assisted with the Mavericks' academic efforts during his time with the program.
Before transitioning into coaching, Mandell competed collegiately at both Mercy and Penn State Berks. A native of Southern Pines, N.C., he appeared in 12 games with one start during the 2024-25 season at Mercy, averaging 3.3 minutes per contest. He scored a season-high six points against Daemen on Feb. 9, 2025.
Mandell continued his playing career with Mercy during the 2025-26 season while also developing his coaching experience. He appeared in nine games for the Mavericks, knocking down five of his eight three-point attempts during the season.
In addition to his collegiate experience, Mandell spent more than a year as an assistant coach with Sandhills Machine Youth Basketball. In that role, he helped organize practices, worked with players on individual development and assisted with game planning and in-game adjustments. He has also worked numerous summer basketball camps at programs across the country, including Alabama, Southern Miss, Shaw and Emory.
Mandell brings a familiarity with leadership both on and off the court to the Upstate program. During his collegiate playing career, he served as a two-time team captain at Mercy and represented the men's basketball program on the Student-Athlete Advisory Council.
Mandell says, "I'm very grateful for the opportunity Coach Richter has given me to begin my college coaching career. I'm excited to work with a talented group of players and look forward to learning from Coach Richter and our experienced staff."
A graduate of Mercy, Mandell earned his bachelor's degree in history education in 2025 before completing his master's degree in organizational leadership in August 2026.
With the Spartans, Mandell will assist in the day-to-day operations of the men's basketball program while contributing to player development, scouting and other areas of the program.
