UIC Athletics

Kevin Zabo (pronounced ZAH-bo) is in his second season as an assistant coach at UIC. He contributes to recruiting and player development while assisting with game scouting and strategy.

Zabo joined the program prior to the 2025-26 season and was part of the staff that helped UIC finish with a 19-16 record, advance to the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament championship game at Arch Madness and earn a berth in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT). The postseason appearance marked UIC's first since 2018 and its first NIT selection since 2003.

The Flames' 2025-26 campaign also featured several individual accomplishments. Elijah Crawford earned All-MVC Second Team and MVC All-Newcomer Team honors, while Andy Johnson was named to the MVC All-Freshman Team. Crawford and Rashund Washington Jr. earned MVC All-Tournament Team recognition as UIC advanced to the conference championship game.

Zabo arrived in Chicago after assistant coaching stints at Canisius (2024-25) and Fairleigh Dickinson (2023-24), along with previous roles at Jacksonville, where he served as director of player development in 2023, and Kent State, where he was director of operations from 2021-23.

He also brings experience competing on the biggest stages in college basketball. As a student-athlete, Zabo played for NCAA Tournament teams at San Diego State and Kent State. San Diego State advanced to the third round of the 2015 NCAA Tournament, while Kent State reached the second round in 2017. Against UCLA in the 2017 tournament, Zabo scored 12 points and recorded a team-high five assists.

A native of Gatineau, Quebec, Canada, Zabo represented his country on Canada's U-16 and U-17 national teams and earned a bronze medal at the 2011 FIBA Americas U-16 Championship. He graduated from Kent State in 2018 with a bachelor's degree in communication before playing professionally in Spain for Albacete Basketball Club (2018-19) and Ponferrada Basketball Club (2019-20).

Zabo also co-founded GetBetterBasketball in 2012, an organization based in Montreal that focuses on basketball training and skill development. His experience as a player, professional athlete and coach informs his work with UIC's recruiting and player-development efforts.