A strategic boost to the Skyhawks
The University of Tennessee at Martin has named Garrett Sams and Charlie Reznikoff as assistant coaches for the upcoming 2026‑27 men's basketball season, a move designed to deepen the program's analytical and developmental capabilities.
Sams, a native of Martin, returns after stints as a graduate assistant at his alma mater and as a player development video coordinator with the Memphis Grizzlies of the NBA, where he contributed to scouting and performance analysis.
Prior to his NBA role, Sams played professionally in Germany for Paderborn Unibaskets and Vfl SparkassenStars Bochum, experiences that gave him a global perspective on the game and reinforced his understanding of high‑level competition.
Reznikoff arrives from Southwestern University, where he served as an assistant coach and helped the team increase its win total by eleven games, a turnaround that earned recognition across the Southern Athletic Association.
His playing career included professional stops in Israel with Hapoel Eilat, Maccabi Kiryat Motzkin and Hapoel Beertuvia, providing him with diverse competitive exposure and a reputation for player development.
Both new assistants also bring academic credentials that reflect a commitment to leadership; Sams holds degrees from Concordia University Chicago and Northeastern University, while Reznikoff earned a bachelor's in Sociology from Concordia and a master's in Sports Leadership from Northeastern.
The appointments come as UT Martin seeks to build on recent improvements in its basketball program, aiming to enhance recruiting pipelines and on‑court strategy through the expertise of its new staff.
Athletic leadership highlighted the hires as part of a broader effort to integrate modern analytics with traditional coaching methods, positioning the Skyhawks for sustained growth in the Ohio Valley Conference.