From court to coach: Lourawls Nairn Jr.’s journey to leading The Bahamas national team

"It's probably the greatest thing that I think I've done in basketball," BGSU men's basketball associate head coach Lourawls "Tum Tum" Nairn Jr. said.

During the offseason, Nairn had the unique opportunity to be the head coach for The Bahamas National basketball team for the 2025 FIBA AmeriCup tournament.

The last time Nairn was a part of the Bahamas team, he was a player in the 2024 Olympic Qualifying Tournament, where the team was one win short of making the Olympics.

Although the position changes, what the team is striving for does not.

"I think it's the same because of the weight of being able to represent your country. It's one of the greatest honors anybody can have," Nairn said. "So, it's the same from that perspective, but it's different because you're now the coach. I coached some of the guys I played with, but I think there was mutual respect," said Nairn.

For many in athletics, playing and coaching for one's country is the peak of the work they have put into a sport.

"I think that was a dream. I mean, it's pretty surreal that I was able to do that. It still feels like I didn't even do it, to be honest," Nairn said. "Especially growing up in the environment that I grew up in, where I came from, I think it's probably the biggest honor of my life."

The dream came with a quick turnaround, however, with Nairn's discovery of his lifelong goal when he least expected it.

"I mean, like, maybe Aug. 2, the general manager called me and asked me if I would have an interest in coaching. He didn't say head coaching, but I was like, I mean, it's my country, so, if Todd okays it, then I would do it, and then Aug. 3, I was actually going to the Bahamas for vacation, just to spend some time with my family," said Nairn.

Without much of a warning, the former guard from Michigan State suddenly found himself thrust into his lifelong dream.

"My younger brother, he was back home, so I wanted to spend some time with him, and he picked me up from the airport," said Nairn. "So, it was August 3rd, and I got the call on the way to my grandma's house, and they asked me if I wanted to be the head coach, and I was like, 'What?'"

Nairn received quick and enthusiastic permission from Bowling Green head coach Todd Simon, who was more than happy to let Tum go for the summer.

"He had a couple of dreams, and one of the dreams was to be the head coach of the Bahamas National team," said Simon. "So my goal, you know, for him and for my friend and for someone that I care about was to try to help him get to those goals."

With his acceptance of the job, Nairn became the youngest recorded coach for the Bahamas AmeriCup team at 30 years old, and in his first-ever game coaching his home country, took Team Bahamas to overtime against Team USA, despite a 105-93 loss.

Even more impressively, the Bowling Green assistant coach only had a few days to prepare for that game against America after accepting the head coaching position for Team Bahamas late in the summer.

"That's something that only experience can teach you. I mean, not a lot of people that's coming up in the profession, they can't even see the game at that light speed," said Nashad Mackey, an assistant coach on Team Bahamas on Tum's preparation for games. "But his ability just to be in tune with what's happening in the game, making adjustments, helping guys manage their emotions through the highs and lows of the game. Tum is a superstar, man."

Mackey, who is currently an assistant coach at USC Upstate, has known Nairn since childhood.

"We played in high school together in The Bahamas, so I've been knowing him a for a long time," Nairn said. "Tremendous coach, tremendous mind. He works extremely hard, and all the assistant coaches were great."

For the two of them to coach together for their home nation is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

"I'm sure not a lot of people have those opportunities. One, to coach. Two, to be on that stage. And then three, just being so close to achieving something special. Something that's never been done in the history of The Bahamas. It was just a dream come true," Mackey said.

For Nairn, the opportunity to coach for his home country was too good to pass up, and despite the team not winning a game, he still felt like a winner regardless.

"Going into it, I was just more so humbled by the opportunity to be able to represent the country and to get coaching reps as a head coach, in-game experience, work with professional players. So, I didn't feel any pressure. No matter what, I didn't feel any pressure…I felt like it was a win-win situation either way. I wanted to win the games as a competitor, but as far as my maturation process and me growing as a coach and a person, I couldn't lose," Nairn said.

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