San Diego Athletics

USD men's basketball head coach JR Blount announced the addition of Josh Calbert to the staff as recruiting coordinator on April 13, 2026.

“Torero fans, we’re excited to welcome Josh Calbert to our program,” said Blount. “He brings an elite basketball mind, a relentless work ethic and strong California roots that will help lead and organize our recruiting efforts both locally and nationally. With established connections across every region of the country and a reputation as a tireless relationship-builder, Josh adds immediate value as we continue to strengthen our roster. We look forward to utilizing his diverse recruiting background as we build toward sustained success.”

Calbert joins the Toreros after two seasons on Pepperdine’s men’s basketball staff  (2024-26), where he served as an assistant coach under Ed Schilling. In his first season in Malibu, Calbert helped lead the Waves to their first WCC Tournament semifinal appearance in four seasons. 

Widely regarded as one of the most connected recruiters on the West Coast, Calbert was named to Silver Waves Media’s 2026 list of the 100 Most Impactful Mid-Major Assistants and GMs. He was also selected to attend the 2025 Silver Waves Elite 75 Future Head Coach Power Lunch, an invitation-only event held during the Final Four that brings together 75 of the top assistant coaches across the nation.

Prior to Pepperdine, Calbert spent the 2023-24 season as coordinator of player development at Arkansas-Little Rock, helping the Trojans to a 21-13 record and a spot in the College Basketball Invitational (CBI). His previous stops include roles at South Dakota Coyotes men's basketball (2022–23) and Northern Illinois Huskies men's basketball (2021–22) as director of recruiting.

Calbert spent six seasons prior to his college coaching career as director and coach of West Coast Elite NorCal, an Under Armour Circuit AAU program based in Walnut Creek, Calif., where he helped establish a top-five ranking among 16U programs on the West Coast. His individual training and coaching resume there includes two McDonald's All-Americans, five NBA draft picks and over 50 NCAA DI players.

Calbert spent six seasons with West Coast Elite NorCal (Under Armour Circuit), where he helped establish a top-five ranking among 16U AAU programs on the West Coast while developing two McDonald’s All-Americans, five NBA Draft picks and more than 50 NCAA Division I players.

Before his time with West Coast Elite, Calbert worked in the high school ranks as a junior varsity head coach and varsity assistant at Deer Valley High School (2012-13), helping guide the JV squad to a league championship while assisting the varsity team to a league title. He later served as an assistant at Salesian College Preparatory in Richmond, Calif.

A native of Pittsburg, Calif., Calbert brings deep roots and extensive relationships throughout the West Coast recruiting landscape to the Torero program.