BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - Mike Scott, now acting head coach of Cal State Bakersfield’s men’s basketball program, stands at the front of the huddle where he’s spent the past eight years as an assistant. Scott steps into the role once held by Rod Barnes and he is ready to shape his own basketball legacy in Bakersfield.

CSUB's recent Media Day offered a glimpse into the mindset of the program's new leader. We learned how Coach Scott's background and intrinsic toughness made him the man for the job. He's poised to instill his style of play and personality upon the Roadrunners.

When asked to describe himself to `Runner fans, Scott didn't hesitate, “I'm a show up every day kind of guy. I'm a gritty guy from Philadelphia, and that's all I know." His upbringing in Philadelphia taught resilience, and created his tough, confident demeanor.

These characteristics are demonstrative of a leader whose energy could become infectious on a ball club. He encourages this year's squad to, “Put on your hard hat, show up to work, take care of business, put the time in, and live with the results.”

On the other side of his early adversity emerged a gritty, wise individual ready to conquer professional basketball in Germany. His experience across the globe helped him see the game in a new light. “Playing overseas gave me a different feel for the game. It gave me a different perspective on spacing on the floor, how fluid the ball needs to move, and how good of a shooter you need to be.”

Following his playing career in Germany, Scott turned to coaching, making stops at Wayland Baptist, Texas A&M International, and Paris Junior College before landing at CSUB. “I’ve had some really good coaches throughout my career that have put me in the right spot and given me the right opportunities to learn and grow,” he said. Those lessons built the foundation for the coach he is today: grounded, adaptable, and ready to lead.

Now, as he steps into a head coaching opportunity, Scott sees this moment as the natural continuation of that journey. “For me it’s always been a journey,” he said. “I believe in taking basketball one day at a time, one shot at a time, one practice at a time to try to get better, and I’ve taken life the same way.” It’s a philosophy that fits perfectly with a program built on persistence and growth. 

Off the court, Scott preaches growth. On it, he wants the Roadrunners running. “We want to pick up the pace of the game to get more possessions,” he said. With a roster full of length and athleticism, expect a faster, freer brand of Bakersfield basketball. This year’s team features no shortage of athleticism, mobility, and positional versatility, and Coach Scott’s philosophy of getting up and down the floor should be a language easy to understand for the 2025 `Runners. 

With the season tipping off Monday, Nov. 3, at Cal, excitement around Bakersfield basketball is building fast. A new chapter begins under Head Coach Mike Scott, whose steady rise through the program has led to this defining moment. “I’m very thankful for this opportunity,” Scott said. “My life experiences have prepared me for this moment, and we’d love the support from the community for our team.”

When fans return to the Icardo Center this season, the colors will look the same, but the sound will tell a different story. It will be the sound of a program rediscovering its rhythm under a coach who’s spent years preparing for this moment.