Report: Former Saint Mary’s PG, assistant coach E.J. Rowland to join ASU staff under Randy Bennett

E.J. Rowland is reportedly set to join his former Saint Mary’s coach Randy Bennett on the Arizona State men’s basketball coaching staff, according to SunDevilSource.com’s Chris Karpman.

His specific role at ASU for this upcoming season is not known at this time, Karpman said.

Rowland has familiarity taking Bennett’s direction, as he was the Gaels’ starting point guard (2003-05) during Bennett’s third and fourth seasons as head coach and spent the past two seasons as a Saint Mary’s assistant coach.

The former 6-foot-2 ball-handler helped the Gaels qualify for their first NCAA Tournament (2005) in Bennett’s 25-year coaching run. He averaged 12.1 points and 4.1 assists across 63 career games and 57 starts.

The Salinas, California, native then went overseas and played 20 years of professional basketball in Europe. He also laced up his shoes on hardwood in Australia and Asia, with his career being highlighted by winning the Latvian league title and playoff MVP honors with VEF Riga in 2013.

The 2026-27 Sun Devils roster is beginning to become more clear, with four former WCC products coming in as transfers to ASU, including two Gaels who were led by Bennett and Rowland (forwards Paulius Murauskas and Dillan Shaw).

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