Babul also worked as an assistant coach for the Long Island Nets, where he worked with longtime friend Shaun Fein.
“We mourn the passing of UMass alum Mike Babul,” the UMass basketball X account said. “Babul was a true Massachusetts basketball legend on the court, serving as a positive force in his community and on many sidelines as a coach.”
At the time of his death, Babul was the head coach of Thayer Academy in Braintree, Mass.
— Tyler Hetu (@TheTylerHetu) December 31, 2024
Upon graduating from UMass, Babul immediately jumped into coaching, starting at the high school ranks before working his way up to associate head coach at Wagner University in 2015.
The 1995-96 high school Gatorade Player of the Year at North Attleboro joined coach John Calipari at UMass and was one of his favorites as a star defensive player.
