Men's Basketball
Rachi Wortham
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
- Email:
- rachi.wortham@mso.umt.edu
- Phone:
- 243-5334
Rachi Wortham will be in his 2nd season (and 5th overall) in his current stint at the University of Montana during the 2026-27 season. He spent three years at Montana from 2016-19 and was re-hired in July 2025. In between, he spent five seasons as the head coach at Tacoma Community College where he recruited and coached multiple First Team All-League Players and coached in back-to-back NWAC Elite 8s and the 2023 NWAC Championship Game, an overtime loss for TCC.Â
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Wortham originally came to Montana after spending two seasons at Oregon State (2014-15 through 2015-16), working under former Griz head coach Wayne Tinkle. No stranger to the Big Sky Conference, Wortham served as an assistant coach at Eastern Washington from 2007-2011 under Kirk Earlywine. Wortham is also an EWU alumnus, where he was a standout guard from 2003-05 and was part of the Eagles’ first trip to the NCAA tournament in 2004.
In his first season back with the Grizzlies, Montana went 18-16 and reached the championship game of the Big Sky Conference Tournament. The team featured Big Sky Tournament MVP Money Williams as well as 1,000-point scorer at UM Te'Jon Sawyer. As the No. 4 seed, Montana knocked off the regular season champion Portland State in the semifinals.Â
During Wortham’s final two seasons in his original stint, Montana won back-to-back Big Sky Conference regular-season and tournament championships and qualified for the NCAA tournament both seasons. The team won a combined 52 games, the most ever in a two-year stretch.
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In 2018-19, Montana won 26 games, tied for the third-most in school history. During non-conference play, the Grizzlies beat a pair of NCAA tournament teams in Georgia State and North Dakota State, and snapped South Dakota State’s nation-leading 26-game home winning streak. After beginning Big Sky Conference play just 3-2, Montana won 16 of its next 18 games to repeat as Big Sky Conference regular-season and tournament champions.
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Montana was one of 20 schools nationally to rank in the top 100 for both scoring offense and defense, and was incredibly efficient, making 49.2 percent of its shots (10th in the nation), including 37.6 percent from beyond the arc (38th).
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The 2017-18 season was historic on many levels, winning 26 games, and like 2018-19, winning Big Sky Conference regular-season and tournament titles and advancing to the NCAA tournament. The team’s 26-8 record included a perfect 14-0 mark on its home court.
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The Grizzlies got off to a strong start, posting their first winning non-conference record in six seasons, including a signature victory at Pitt of the ACC. Montana then won its first 13 Big Sky games, the third-longest winning streak in school history and the third-longest active streak in the NCAA at the time. The stretch featured a program-record seven consecutive road victories. Montana used the same starting lineup for all 34 contests, leading to a balanced effort. The Grizzlies led the Big Sky in five statistical categories and ranked in the top three in 14. On defense, the Grizzlies ranked in the top 30 nationally for turnovers forced (15.4, 22nd), steals (7.8, 23rd) and turnover margin (+3.0, 29th).
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Among the greats Wortham helped develop were Ahmaad Rorie and Michael Oguine. Rorie, the 2019 Big Sky Conference tournament MVP, reached 1,500 career points faster than any player in Montana history, doing so in his third season with the program. Oguine was the 2018 tournament MVP and league’s top defender, and finished his career ranked in the top 10 for scoring, steals and games started.
During his first season in Missoula, the Griz went 16-16 and earned a first-round bye in the Big Sky Conference tournament, despite having 10 underclassmen and just two seniors who saw significant time.
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One of Wortham's favorite things to do is volunteer. He continues to head the program's mentoring and community outreach efforts, regularly spending time at local elementary schools, retirement homes, the Boys & Girls Club/YMCA, and speaking to assemblies. He is passionate about using basketball as a means of outreach and leadership development, and has spent time volunteering for organizations such as TEAM A.C.C.E.S.S., the YMCA of Pierce and Kitsap Counties, and the Boys & Girls Club.
In 2016-17, the Grizzlies posted a team grade-point average above 3.0, earning NABC Team Academic Excellence recognition, with two players being named to the NABC Honors Court.
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Wortham and DeCuire’s relationship dates back to the mid-1990s when he played AAU basketball under DeCuire at the age of 15 in his hometown of Tacoma, Wash.
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During his time in Corvallis, Oregon State posted back-to-back winning seasons and an NCAA tournament berth in 2015-16. Among those Wortham developed was 2016 Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year Gary Payton, Jr. While at Eastern Washington, the Eagles earned a berth in the Big Sky Conference tournament in 2010-11.
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Wortham is a 2000 graduate of Foss High School in Tacoma, Wash., where he led his team to a 25-4 record and the 2000 Washington 4A state championship.
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After high school, he followed family ties to the University of Alabama on an academic scholarship for one year (2000-01) before returning to the Pacific Northwest to play basketball at Tacoma Community College. Wortham played at TCC for two seasons (2001-02 through 2002-03), leading the Titans to a 58-8 record and a first-place finish at the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges (NWAACC) tournament. He was inducted into the NWAACC Hall of Fame in 2013.
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At TCC, Wortham earned an associate of arts degree in general studies in 2003 before transferring to Eastern Washington University, where he graduated in 2006 with a degree in interdisciplinary studies and helped the Eagles to the 2004 Big Sky Conference regular-season and tournament titles. He also worked on a master’s degree from EWU in 2008 in science sports administration.
Wortham is on the NABC Assistant Coaches Committee, a member of the Black Coaches Association, and a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. He was also recognized as The City of Destiny Award Winner in 2023 for Adult and Youth Leadership.
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He has one son Joaquin that is 14 years old.
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Wortham originally came to Montana after spending two seasons at Oregon State (2014-15 through 2015-16), working under former Griz head coach Wayne Tinkle. No stranger to the Big Sky Conference, Wortham served as an assistant coach at Eastern Washington from 2007-2011 under Kirk Earlywine. Wortham is also an EWU alumnus, where he was a standout guard from 2003-05 and was part of the Eagles’ first trip to the NCAA tournament in 2004.
In his first season back with the Grizzlies, Montana went 18-16 and reached the championship game of the Big Sky Conference Tournament. The team featured Big Sky Tournament MVP Money Williams as well as 1,000-point scorer at UM Te'Jon Sawyer. As the No. 4 seed, Montana knocked off the regular season champion Portland State in the semifinals.Â
During Wortham’s final two seasons in his original stint, Montana won back-to-back Big Sky Conference regular-season and tournament championships and qualified for the NCAA tournament both seasons. The team won a combined 52 games, the most ever in a two-year stretch.
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In 2018-19, Montana won 26 games, tied for the third-most in school history. During non-conference play, the Grizzlies beat a pair of NCAA tournament teams in Georgia State and North Dakota State, and snapped South Dakota State’s nation-leading 26-game home winning streak. After beginning Big Sky Conference play just 3-2, Montana won 16 of its next 18 games to repeat as Big Sky Conference regular-season and tournament champions.
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Montana was one of 20 schools nationally to rank in the top 100 for both scoring offense and defense, and was incredibly efficient, making 49.2 percent of its shots (10th in the nation), including 37.6 percent from beyond the arc (38th).
Â
The 2017-18 season was historic on many levels, winning 26 games, and like 2018-19, winning Big Sky Conference regular-season and tournament titles and advancing to the NCAA tournament. The team’s 26-8 record included a perfect 14-0 mark on its home court.
Â
The Grizzlies got off to a strong start, posting their first winning non-conference record in six seasons, including a signature victory at Pitt of the ACC. Montana then won its first 13 Big Sky games, the third-longest winning streak in school history and the third-longest active streak in the NCAA at the time. The stretch featured a program-record seven consecutive road victories. Montana used the same starting lineup for all 34 contests, leading to a balanced effort. The Grizzlies led the Big Sky in five statistical categories and ranked in the top three in 14. On defense, the Grizzlies ranked in the top 30 nationally for turnovers forced (15.4, 22nd), steals (7.8, 23rd) and turnover margin (+3.0, 29th).
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Among the greats Wortham helped develop were Ahmaad Rorie and Michael Oguine. Rorie, the 2019 Big Sky Conference tournament MVP, reached 1,500 career points faster than any player in Montana history, doing so in his third season with the program. Oguine was the 2018 tournament MVP and league’s top defender, and finished his career ranked in the top 10 for scoring, steals and games started.
During his first season in Missoula, the Griz went 16-16 and earned a first-round bye in the Big Sky Conference tournament, despite having 10 underclassmen and just two seniors who saw significant time.
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One of Wortham's favorite things to do is volunteer. He continues to head the program's mentoring and community outreach efforts, regularly spending time at local elementary schools, retirement homes, the Boys & Girls Club/YMCA, and speaking to assemblies. He is passionate about using basketball as a means of outreach and leadership development, and has spent time volunteering for organizations such as TEAM A.C.C.E.S.S., the YMCA of Pierce and Kitsap Counties, and the Boys & Girls Club.
In 2016-17, the Grizzlies posted a team grade-point average above 3.0, earning NABC Team Academic Excellence recognition, with two players being named to the NABC Honors Court.
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Wortham and DeCuire’s relationship dates back to the mid-1990s when he played AAU basketball under DeCuire at the age of 15 in his hometown of Tacoma, Wash.
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During his time in Corvallis, Oregon State posted back-to-back winning seasons and an NCAA tournament berth in 2015-16. Among those Wortham developed was 2016 Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year Gary Payton, Jr. While at Eastern Washington, the Eagles earned a berth in the Big Sky Conference tournament in 2010-11.
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Wortham is a 2000 graduate of Foss High School in Tacoma, Wash., where he led his team to a 25-4 record and the 2000 Washington 4A state championship.
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After high school, he followed family ties to the University of Alabama on an academic scholarship for one year (2000-01) before returning to the Pacific Northwest to play basketball at Tacoma Community College. Wortham played at TCC for two seasons (2001-02 through 2002-03), leading the Titans to a 58-8 record and a first-place finish at the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges (NWAACC) tournament. He was inducted into the NWAACC Hall of Fame in 2013.
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At TCC, Wortham earned an associate of arts degree in general studies in 2003 before transferring to Eastern Washington University, where he graduated in 2006 with a degree in interdisciplinary studies and helped the Eagles to the 2004 Big Sky Conference regular-season and tournament titles. He also worked on a master’s degree from EWU in 2008 in science sports administration.
Wortham is on the NABC Assistant Coaches Committee, a member of the Black Coaches Association, and a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. He was also recognized as The City of Destiny Award Winner in 2023 for Adult and Youth Leadership.
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He has one son Joaquin that is 14 years old.
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| RACHI WORTHAM AT A GLANCE | ||||||
| PERSONAL | ||||||
| Hometown | Tacoma, Washington | |||||
| Education | Eastern Washington, 2006 | |||||
| Family | Son: Joaquin | |||||
| COACHING HISTORY | ||||||
| Year | School | Position | Record | Conference finish | Postseason | |
| 2007-08 | Eastern Washington | Assistant | 6-10 | 8th | N/A | |
| 2008-09 | Eastern Washington | Assistant | 12-18Â | 7th | N/A | |
| 2009-10 | Eastern Washington | Assistant | 9-21 | 7th | N/A | |
| 2010-11 | Eastern Washington | Assistant | 10-20 | 6th | Big Sky Tournament | |
| 2014-15 | Oregon State | Director of Player Personnel | 17-14 | 7th | Pac-12 Tournament | |
| 2015-16 | Oregon State | Director of Player Personnel | 19-13 | 7th | NCAA Tournament | |
| 2016-17 | Montana | Assistant | 16-16 | 5th | Big Sky Tournament | |
| 2017-18 | Montana | Assistant | 26-8 | 1st | NCAA Tournament | |
| 2018-19 | Montana | Assistant | 26-9 | 1st | NCAA Tournament | |
| 2020-21 | Tacoma CC | Head Coach | COVID-19 | |||
| 2021-22 | Tacoma CC | Head Coach | 16-11 | 3rd | NWAC Elite 8 | |
| 2022-23 | Tacoma CC | Head Coach | 12-15 | 3rd | NWAC Elite 8 | |
| 2023-24 | Tacoma CC | Head Coach | 23-10 | 4th | NWAC Championship | |
| 2024-25 | Tacoma CC | Head Coach | 17-11 | 5th | N/A | |
| 2025-26 | Montana | Assistant | 18-16 | 4th | Big Sky Tournament | |
| 15 Seasons | 227-92 | |||||
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Monday, March 30
Monday, March 30
Monday, March 30
Monday, March 30
