KINGSTON, R.I. – Rhode Island head coach
Archie Miller has promoted
Chandler Graves to assistant coach/director of operations. He also named former student manager Jack Buchan to the staff as a graduate assistant.
Former graduate assistant Gilvydas Biruta left the program for an opportunity as an assistant coach with the Grand Rapids Gold of the NBA G League.
Graves enters his second season with Rhode Island in 2024-25 after joining the staff as the director of basketball operations in August of 2023. With the promotion, he is able to increase his on-court work with players while still retaining his duties running day-to-day operations for the team.
"Chandler is a bright, young basketball mind with an exceptional work ethic," Miller said. "He understands how we want the program to operate, and he has an ability to connect with everyone who is involved in the program, whether it be the players, fellow coaches or the student managers and support staff. He is a valuable piece to our entire operation."
Buchan worked with the team for several years while he was an undergrad at Rhode Island. After graduating last spring, he joins the staff and will spearhead team film and scout film breakdown, among other responsibilities.
"I often say that student managers are some of the most successful, hardest working people you will come across in life," Miller said. "Jack is a classic example of that. He handled a lot of different tasks well over the last couple years, and when a G.A. position became available, it was a situation that made a lot of sense for both Jack and for the program."
Biruta spent the 2023-24 season with Rhode Island as a graduate assistant. The former URI player joined head coach Andre Miller's staff with Grand Rapids in late August.
He is the third G.A. in the last two years to earn a full-time positions elsewhere. Andrew Chrabascz spent 2023-24 as an assistant coach at Army, while Justin Mazzulla is in his second year with the Salt Lake City Jazz of the NBA G League. He spent 2023-24 as an assistant coach before becoming the team's assistant video coordinator in June.
