Staff
DAVID MCLAUGHLIN,
Head Coach
The 2024-25 season marks David McLaughlin’s ninth year (eighth season) on the sidelines as Dartmouth head coach. He was named the 28th head coach of the Big Green men’s basketball program on April 25, 2016.
“Dartmouth College is unique, even within the unique nature of the Ivy League,” said McLaughlin. “It’s the only college in the Ivy League and has an undergraduate focus. The community is real, the culture of support for each other — both in the athletic realm and the campus community — is real, and we extend that to our program.
“I feel that we are truly relationship-based and developmental-based in terms of wanting our guys to improve on a daily basis, and we tie that into what they’re getting on campus every day as well,” McLaughlin continued. “That’s seen through our core values, which is Be A Pro.”
Be A Pro is an acronym that stands for Belief, Excellence, Accountability, Positivity, Relationships and Ownership.
Under the leadership of McLaughlin, the Big Green are on the rise. Most recently in 2021-22, Dartmouth finished 6-8 in Ivy League play, just one game out of the Ivy League Tournament. Those six league victories were the program’s most since recording seven in 2014-15, and marked Dartmouth’s second most league victories in the previous 12 seasons. Defensively, the Big Green led the Ivy League in allowing just 68.2 points per game. The Big Green also beat third-seeded Penn and fourth-seeded Cornell during the regular season.
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JABARI TROTTER, Assistant Coach
Jabari Trotter returned to Dartmouth men’s basketball team in 2021 for his third tour of duty with the program. A 2012 Dartmouth graduate with a degree in sociology, Trotter was originally a combo guard for the Big Green, playing in the second-most games in program history (112), starting 80 contests, and averaging 6.9 points while converting 102 3-pointers, one of less than 20 in program history to reach triple digits.
“We are thrilled that Jabari decided to come back here,” said head coach David McLaughlin. “The impact he’s had this time has been just fantastic. I’ve really appreciated how much he grew as a coach in his time apart, his time away from Dartmouth when he was at Hawaii. I’ve been able to witness that first-hand. I have a lot of faith in him and I’m excited that he’s now our recruiting coordinator. I put a lot of faith in how he understands Dartmouth and how he understands the staff.”
In his return to Dartmouth, Trotter worked closely with the guards and helped develop Brendan Barry, who was named second team All-Ivy League in 2021-22 and finished as the Big Green all-time 3-point record holder (244). Trotter helped the Big Green to six Ivy league victories, its most in seven seasons, and played an integral role in running the defense, which led the Ivy League in allowing just 68.2 points per game. Dartmouth finished just one game out of an Ivy League Tournament position, while beating third-seeded Penn and fourth-seeded Cornell during the regular season. In the regular-season finale, the Big Green earned a 22-point triumph over Harvard, their largest margin of victory over the Crimson in 30 years and largest on the road since 1955.
“In my eyes, Jabari is our staff manager,” said McLaughlin. “He takes pride in that role, and he is passionate about managing, and being a mentor to, the staff. Beyond that, I feel like Jabari’s experience being a student-athlete here really impacts how he can build relationships with guys and how he can recruit at a place like Dartmouth. It really helps his overall impact of teaching the game on the floor. These are just are a few of Jabari’s foundational qualities that will enable him to be a head coach in the near future.”
Trotter returned to his alma mater after three years as an assistant coach at the University of Hawaii, where the Rainbow Warriors finished 46-26 during his time. There, he oversaw the development of the wing players while also focusing on rebounding and transition, helping the 'Bows finish top 30 nationally in rebounding margin in his first season. Trotter also coached All-Big West player Jack Purchase and was instrumental in the development of Samuta Avea from a reserve to the team's second-leading scorer in 2019-20. In Trotter’s time at Hawaii, he recruited Princeton transfer Jerome Desrosiers, who became an All-Conference selection for the Rainbow Warriors. Trotter worked with the wings, as Junior Madut was an All-Big West selection and part of Trotter’s player development group, as was Purchase, who garnered second team All-Conference honors.
In 2016, Trotter was part of the first coaching staff at Dartmouth under McLaughlin and spent two years on the staff in his initial return to Hanover. He was responsible for practice and game preparation, player development and scouting, and served as co-coordinator for recruiting.
Trotter began his collegiate coaching career at Lehigh in 2015-16. That season, the Mountain Hawks went 13-5 in the Patriot League, earned the No. 2 seed and hosted the league championship game. Late in the year, Lehigh reeled off 11 straight victories to tie a program record. Tim Kempton repeated as Patriot League Player of the Year while Kahron Ross was named to the first team as a sophomore, and Austin Price garnered third-team recognition.
Between his graduation and first coaching gig with the Green, Trotter traveled to Dublin, Ireland, to play professional basketball with the Dublin Thunder BC while coaching the KUBS U17 girls basketball team and the Lady Haroldites of the Ireland Division II Women’s League. He also enrolled in the Dublin Business School, from which he received a master’s in business management practice in 2014.
Upon returning to the United States, Trotter was hired at his post-graduate school, Phillips Exeter Academy, as an admissions office intern and assistant for the boys’ basketball team.
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RICH GLESMANN, Assistant Coach
Prior to Dartmouth, Glesmann was a Head Coach in the B-League of Japan for seven years. Known for his up-tempo offense, B-league teams coached under Glesmann were consistently among the top ranked offensive teams.
Prior to Dartmouth, Glesmann was a Head Coach in the B-League of Japan for seven years. Known for his up-tempo offense, B-league teams coached under Glesmann were consistently among the top ranked offensive teams.
In his first season in Japan, Glesmann led the Ehime Orange Vikings to a franchise record-setting 33 wins. The 2017-2018 Orange Vikings averaged 84.1 points per-game, ranking them first among the league.
In June of 2020, after three successful years with the Orange Vikings, Glesmann accepted the Head Coaching Position of the Ibaraki Robots. In his first season with the Organization, Glesmann directed the Robots to unparalleled success. The 2020-2021 Ibaraki Robots finished with a 46-18 record, reaching the Championship Finals (B1 promotion). The Robots averaged 89 points per-game, while committing only 9.7 turnovers per-game (league record). During that remarkable season, the Robots scored over 100-points in a game on ten different occasions.
As a Head Coach in the B-League, Glesmann coached various high-level professional players including: Luke Maye (UNC), Johnny O'Bryant (LSU), Cameron Krutwig (Loyola Chicago), Eric Jacobsen (Arizona State), and Chehales Tapscott (Portland State). Before his decorated experience in Japan, Glesmann was an Assistant-Coach/Recruiting Coordinator at Duquesne University. During his five seasons in Pittsburgh, Glesmann was the lead recruiter for A-10 All-Rookie Team Selections Derrick Colter (2013), and Mike Lewis (2017).
Prior to Duquesne University, Glesmann was an Assistant Coach at Long Island University-Brooklyn for six years. During his final two seasons at LIU-Brooklyn, the Blackbirds won both the 2010-2011, and 2011-2012 Northeast Conference Championships. LIU-Brooklyn had a combined record of 38-4 in Northeast Conference games during that two-year span.
"The experience Rich has gained through his 10+ years as a Division I assistant, combined with 7 years as a professional head coach in Japan is truly invaluable for our players, staff, and program. As I began this process, there were certain criteria I identified that would be vital for this role. Through the interactions I had with Rich, it became evident that he fulfilled what I was looking for and what our program needed. He is a grinder that understands the importance of staff chemistry and cohesion. He is an impressive tactician, proven by the success of his teams in Japan. He has extensive recruiting experience and vast connections both domestic and internationally that will benefit our recruiting of elite student-athletes. And he truly values relationships. He will not be afraid to hold our student-athletes accountable, values the importance of player development, and will take pride in helping their holistic development as young men,” said Head Coach David McLaughlin
A native of Wayland, Mass., Glesmann graduated from Emerson College in 2002. A three-year starter at guard, and a team captain, he helped the Lions post a 21-9 mark as a senior. Glesmann, and his wife Sarah have been married for 11 years. The couple are the parents to twin boys Oliver and Simon.
WHAT ARE THEY SAYING
“Dartmouth got a great coach and overall great person. Rich brings an abundance of experience at multiple different levels of coaching basketball. He has won championships at LIU, helped build a better program at Duquesne and at the professional level in Japan. Rich is a great addition to Dartmouth and for Dave and brings a wealth of knowledge in not only coaching but also recruiting and more to the Big Green.” - UMBC Men’s Basketball Head Coach, Jim Ferry
“Rich is a tremendous team player. He always cares about the team, not his individual accomplishments, it’s always about the team and his loyalty to his teammates and his players. You are not going to find a better person to represent your college than Rich. He is a terrific coach; he has a lot of success in both college and professional basketball that comes from his extremely high basketball IQ. Players are going to want to play for him at Dartmouth College.” – NBA Scout Oklahoma City Thunder, Hank Smith
“Coach Glessman knows this league (Japan B2) well and did a phenomenal job to maximize player’s potential with a limited budget team. After several seasons of coaching experience in the Division 2 league (B2) as Head Coach, he led his team to a Division I promotion. Even after he helped the team be promoted, his team was always in a below average situation (including budget, environment, location, etc.) but never relegated to B2 league while his time in Ibaraki.” - General Manager of Shibuya Sunrockers, Ryota Matsuoka
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TAURUS SAMUELS, Assistant Coach
Taurus Samuels joined the Big Green coaching staff as an Assistant Coach in August 2024.
Samuels returns to the Big Green men’s basketball program after being a student-athlete from 2018-2022. He played four seasons with Dartmouth, with one of the seasons being cut short due to COVID-19. He was a two-year starter and was a Co-Captain his senior year.
“I am absolutely thrilled to welcome Taurus back to Dartmouth and the Upper Valley. His impact during his career as a student-athlete both on and off the court was incredibly impressive in so many ways. As teammate, leader, and positive member of the Dartmouth community, Taurus left a legacy that was present within our program even after his graduation,” said McLaughlin.
As a student-athlete with the Big Green, Samuels aided in taking down Big East opponent Georgetown his senior year by scoring a career high 23 points, which included six field goals beyond the arc. Also in his senior season, Samuels finished second on the team with 30 3-pointers, third in free throws made (42), and assists (40). The same year, he was the recipient of the John Di Iorio Award for hustle, drive and determination. As a first year, Samuels made an impact right away when he was chosen as the team’s Doggie Julian Award winner for spirit and enthusiasm. Throughout Samuels’ time with the Big Green, the team saw positive growth in conference wins each season. To read more on Samuels’ Dartmouth career, click HERE.
After graduating, he transferred to the University of Minnesota, where he played his final year of eligibility as a Graduate Student, obtaining his Master of Education in Sports Management. Samuels was elected Co-Captain of the team prior to the start of the 2022-2023 season. He played in 28 games, starting 13 of them, and played a vital role in mentoring the underclassmen, specifically the guards.
Prior to Dartmouth, Samuels worked as an Investor Relations Analyst for an advisory firm, Teneo, in New York City. As an analyst, he monitored sell-side equity analyst coverage of the company’s clients, along with market indicators/trends that impact clients and competitors using different tools and inputs. He also tracked the capital markets and provided deep analysis of major events such as earnings calls, investor days, conferences, or major announcements to keep senior management and client teams as informed as possible.
“Taurus was one of the best leaders I have had the pleasure to coach. Some of the qualities that he had as a player, and will bring as a coach include; his infectious personality, a selfless approach and belief in others, a competitive edge that allows him to hold himself and others accountable, and an amazing talent to value and build relationships. These qualities will be significant additions to our program and be the foundation for what is going to be a phenomenal coaching career,” added McLaughlin.
Samuels is originally from Oceanside, CA – a city in North County San Diego. He graduated from Dartmouth College with a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology in 2022.
WHAT ARE THEY SAYING?
“Taurus possesses all the qualities you would want on a coaching staff. He is a leader, tremendous communicator, relationship builder, and loyal son of Dartmouth. I’m thrilled he’s back in Hanover! He is a great addition to the Big Green program!” – Dartmouth ‘79, former Northeastern Director of Athletics and former Dartmouth Interim Director of Athletics, Peter Roby
“Great hire by Coach McLaughlin and Dartmouth College. Taurus is a connector with infectious energy and passion for people. Taurus has an extremely bright future; I look forward to watching him make an impact in winning games and Dartmouth basketball overall!” – University of Minnesota Men’s Basketball Head Coach, Ben Johnson
“Taurus Samuels embodied the mission of Dartmouth College when he was a student-athlete by preparing himself for a lifetime of responsible leadership through his leadership development within DP2 and Dartmouth Athletics. Now Taurus has the opportunity to prepare future Big Green student-athletes for that same mission as an Assistant Coach. Taurus is an elite communicator and embodies so many characteristics of successful coaches in his habits and high level of self-discipline and accountability. I am excited to welcome Taurus Samuels back to The Woods.” - Corrigan Family Assistant Athletics Director for Leadership and Mental Performance, Stephen Gonzalez
“We are very excited that Taurus is back at Dartmouth. It only took a few recruiting phone calls into his junior year of high school to see that Taurus was a natural born leader who would leave a lasting impression on our program and this college. Fast forward seven years later and our former captain is ready to take on a new challenge on the bench and on the recruiting trails. His love for Dartmouth will be seen in many facets and our current student-athletes will benefit greatly from his return.” – Dartmouth Men’s Basketball Assistant Coach and Recruiting Coordinator, Jabari Trotter
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RYAN KAPUSTKA, Director of Basketball Operations
Ryan Kapustka joined the Big Green staff in August 2024 as the Director of Basketball Operations.
“I am thrilled with the addition of Ryan to our staff. He has extensive experience that will add extreme value to many aspects of our program. He is a student of the game, values relationships, is selfless, and no job is to big or small for him to attack. He is the final piece of what I believe is an extremely strong and talented staff!” said Head Coach David McLaughlin.
Before Dartmouth, Kapustka was the Director of Scouting and Assistant Coach at the University of Illinois-Chicago. He was the co-recruiting coordinator along with being heavily involved in on court player development and leading all video and scouting aspects of the program. He also served as the assistant offensive coordinator where he was instrumental in the Flames offense being 62nd in the nation in 3FG%, 4th in the conference in 3FG made and 5th in the conference in assists. Kapustka played a key role in player development as the Flames set school records in GPA as well as Toby Okani earning 1st team All-Defense and Filip Skobalj earning 1st team Scholar-Athlete.
Kapustka started with UIC as the team’s Director of Basketball Operations. In that role, he was in charge of travel logistics, budget, gear, scheduling future opponents, camp director, official visit logistics and was the liaison to all departments within the athletic department. He once again played a big role in player development which led Jace Carter to being named second-team all-MVC and Filip Skobalj 1st team Scholar-Athlete. Kapustka served as the assistant offensive coordinator where the Flames were nationally ranked 47th in three-pointers attempted and 77th in tempo.
Kapustka joined the Flames after spending the prior four years with Rice University’s men’s basketball program. After serving as a graduate manager for the Owls his first two seasons, Kapustka was elevated to the program’s Director of Operations for his final two years in Houston.
In his final year the Owls went 16-17 including a CBI postseason berth which was the first postseason appearance since 2016-2017. Over his tenure, the Owls won 15 or more games in three straight seasons which is only the third time the program has done so in the last 75 years. The Owls also won conference tournament games in back-to-back seasons, the first time since 2005. As assistant offensive coordinator, the Owls had one of the top offenses in C-USA. In his final season the Owls were first or second in the conference in the following offensive categories: assist percentage, total assists, assists per game, three-pointers made, three-pointers per game, three-pointers attempted, and effective field goal percentage.
In his role with Rice, Kapustka oversaw day-to-day scheduling, coordinating travel logistics and official visit procedures, serving as the liaison to compliance, facilities and other athletic programs. Additionally, Kapustka managed the budget and student-manager program while also overseeing the team’s student-athlete development. Under his watch, the Owls posted a program record GPA during the 2021-22 season.
During his two seasons as a graduate manager for Rice, Kapustka helped prepare scouting reports for the coaching staff and provided daily individual workouts for the team. He also assisted the Director of Operations in completing expense reports, team budgets, travel logistics, equipment organization, game day operations and scheduling for future seasons.
Kapustka earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan in 2018 in sport management. At Michigan, he served as a head manager under Coach John Beilein for 4 years, where they won back-to-back Big Ten Tournament titles in 2017 and 2018 along with a national championship appearance in 2018 and setting a program record 33 wins.
A native of Grand Rapids, Mich., Kapustka and his wife, Maggie, have a daughter, Kaia.