DJ Mocini was hired as an assistant coach to Cornell Mann's staff in May 2022 and will begin his fourth season with the Lakers in the 2025-26 season.
In 2024-25, GVSU posted a 16-13 overall record and 12-8 conference mark. The Lakers had two players named to the All-GLIAC second team and three players earn All-GLIAC defensive team honors which was the most out of any teams in the conference.
In the 2023-24 season, GVSU advanced to the GLIAC tournament championship game and finished with a 16-15 overall record and 11-7 GLIAC record. Marius Grazulis, William Dunn, and Ethan Alderink were named to the All-GLIAC second team, while Trevor Smith and Mason Docks earned All-GLIAC defensive honors.
In his first season as assistant coach at Grand Valley State, Mocini helped the Lakers to an 18-12 overall record and 11-7 GLIAC mark. The Lakers made the GLIAC Tournament for the eighth consecutive season. Marius Grazulis was named to the All-GLIAC first team and Kinsgley Okanu and Trevor Smith were named to the All-GLIAC defensive team.
He spent the 2021-22 season on staff at Oakland University as director of basketball operations, where his responsibilities included day-to-day operations, including travel, budgetary management, camps, and donor relations.
Prior to joining the staff at Oakland, Mocini spent eight seasons at Central Michigan University, where he started as Coordinator of Basketball Operations before being promoted into an assistant coaching role from 2019-21. Mocini was heavily involved in recruiting, academics, budget, fundraising, and team travel during his time at CMU. From 2015 to 2019, the Chippewas advanced to postseason play four times, including a trip to the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) during the 2014-15 season.
Before CMU, Mocini served as an assistant coach at Northwood University for three years. The native of Saugatuck, Mich., guided the Timberwolves to a Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) North Division championship in 2012, setting a school record for NCAA Division II wins (16) and consecutive victories (8).
Mocini served as a graduate assistant for the Dayton men's basketball program that advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament in 2009. In 2010, the Flyers won the NIT championship. He completed his master's degree in educational leadership at Dayton in 2012.
Mocini graduated from Albion College in 2008 from the Carl A. Gerstacker Institute for Business and Management. He played four years for the Brits basketball team, serving as team captain his senior season.
Mocini and his wife Rachel reside in Allendale with sons Trey and Dutton.
