Rodney Terry looks forward to working with new top assistant Kenton Paulino

UTEP men’s basketball head coach Rodney Terry was looking for a new top assistant and is now turning to a man he knows and trusts.

Terry spoke highly of new top assistant Kenton Paulino Friday, saying he hopes they can rekindle some of the magic they found together while working with one another at Fresno State.

“We’re really excited about Kenton Paulino joining our staff,” Terry said. “He’s a guy who comes to us with a wealth of playing experience and coaching experience. He’s won at every level and is a winner. He’s a rising superstar in this business, and we can’t wait to get to work.”

Paulino served under Terry at Fresno State from 2012 to 2017 and helped guide the team to the NCAA Tournament in 2016.

Paulino has spent the last two seasons as an assistant coach at Tulsa. He also played for Texas when Terry was an assistant with the Longhorns.

“I am extremely excited to join the UTEP family and reconnect with coach Terry and staff,” Paulino said. “I am ready to get to work and help build on UTEP’s basketball tradition.”

While at Fresno State, Paulino was primarily responsible for game preparation, recruiting, and skill development.

The Miners had a void to fill at assistant coach after the unexpected departures of Brian Burton and Lamont Smith this offseason. Smith was implicated in a college admissions bribery scandal, according to the University of San Diego, where he used to coach. Meanwhile, Burton was relieved of his duties but was not believed to be part of any illicit activities.