Max Thorpe enters his second season at Arkansas State in 2026-27 and his first as an assistant coach after earning a promotion in July 2026. Thorpe joined Ryan Pannone's inaugural staff in 2025-26 as Director of Player Development and played an instrumental role in helping the Red Wolves become one of the nation's top turnaround stories.
In his first season in Jonesboro, Thorpe helped Arkansas State win 20 regular-season games and finish 11-7 in Sun Belt Conference play despite returning no players from the previous season. The Red Wolves tied for second in the conference standings, posted a program-record nine road victories and became one of only two Division I programs nationally to win 20 games in 2025-26 without a returning player.
Thorpe worked extensively in player development, film preparation and analytics during the 2025-26 campaign. Head coach Ryan Pannone credited Thorpe's impact on player development, film sessions and the program's analytics efforts as key factors in his promotion to assistant coach.
"Max has done an unbelievable job in continually helping develop our players on the floor and through film sessions while leading our analytics program," Pannone said. "His vast knowledge of the game through his upbringing and playing career has provided tremendous value to our program. His relentless work ethic and commitment to this program has led to his promotion as an assistant coach."
Thorpe arrived at Arkansas State after spending the 2024-25 season as a graduate manager at Alabama, where he helped the Crimson Tide advance to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament. During his time in Tuscaloosa, he organized and conducted workouts, created personnel and scouting-report video edits and assisted with scouting future opponents.
Prior to Alabama, the Clearwater, Fla., native spent four seasons as a student-athlete at Florida State. A three-year letterwinner for the Seminoles, he was a member of Florida State's 2021 NCAA Tournament team that advanced to the Sweet 16 and reached the ACC Tournament championship game.
Thorpe was recognized for his achievements in the classroom throughout his collegiate career, earning ACC Academic Honor Roll recognition four times and NABC Academic Honors Court accolades twice. In addition to his work on the court, he served three summers as a camp counselor at the J. Leonard Hamilton Basketball Camp.
Thorpe earned a bachelor's degree in sport management from Florida State in 2023 and a graduate certificate in athletic coaching in 2024.
He is the son of renowned NBA player development specialist and life coach David Thorpe.
