Rockford University

Malachi Luster enters his first season as an assistant coach for the men's basketball program. A native of Rockford, Ill., Luster brings a diverse background of collegiate playing experience and local interscholastic coaching success to the bench.

Luster joins the staff after serving a three-year stint at his alma mater, Rockford East High School, from 2023 to 2026. Working as the head freshman coach and varsity assistant under head coach Roy Sackmaster, Luster helped guide the E-Rabs to an Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Regional Championship in 2026. During his tenure on the varsity staff, he helped develop five All-Conference selections and coordinated the program’s comprehensive team and individual workout regimens. Luster also oversaw academic progress for his student-athletes, maintaining a 3.2 cumulative team grade-point average.

Prior to his time at Rockford East, Luster spent the 2022-23 season as a coach at Rockford West Middle School under athletic director Michael Ayers. While at Rockford West, he initiated a financial literacy program tailored for student-athletes while guiding the team to a 3.2 GPA. Luster began his coaching career in the grassroots ranks, leading the Rockford Jr. NBA program from 2021 to 2022 and securing the circuit's Most Improved Team honors.

As a student-athlete, Luster competed collegiately at both Monmouth College and Silver Lake College of the Holy Family. At Silver Lake, he was part of the 2019-20 squad that captured the best record in program history and secured the Lakers' first-ever national tournament appearance. Prior to his time in Manitowoc, Luster spent two seasons at Monmouth (2017-19). As a freshman in 2017-18, the 6-foot-2 guard appeared on a Fighting Scots squad that finished 20-8 overall, captured the Midwest Conference Championship, and earned the program's first NCAA Division III Tournament berth in 15 years.

A standout prep player at Rockford East, Luster was a three-year varsity player and a two-time team captain for the E-Rabs. He finished his high school career ranked in the top five within the Northern Illinois Conference (NIC-10) in both steals and assists, while graduating in the top 20 of his senior class scholastically.

Luster earned an associate-level degree from Monmouth College in 2019 and is currently completing his advanced degree requirements through Waldorf University.