Jamal Ibrahim was named a student manager for men’s basketball in August 2024. Ibrahim is a graduate of Reavis High School and began his coaching career as an assistant varsity coach at his alma mater. He rose through the ranks quickly and, at just 19, became the head varsity coach at Universal High School in Bridgeview, Illinois—making him one of the youngest high school varsity head coaches in the nation.

In his first year at Universal, Ibrahim led the team to a 6-2 start, including a memorable 3-point loss to defending 1A state champion Yorkville Christian—a team that had previously defeated Universal by over 50 points. His team’s competitive performance against such a powerhouse earned him recognition in the Chicago basketball community. Ibrahim capped off his debut season by winning a conference championship before briefly stepping away to play internationally (FIBA PBF).

Returning for a second season at Universal, Ibrahim faced new challenges, including a revamped starting lineup and the toughest schedule in the school’s history. After a slow start, the team found its rhythm and mounted an impressive playoff run. After winning a play-in game, Ibrahim’s team delivered a historic upset by defeating Chicago Horizon, the reigning 1A Chicago Public League city champions, who were heavily favored to win the state title. This victory propelled Universal to its first-ever regional championship appearance.