Recognized as a trailblazer within the college basketball community as the first Division I men’s basketball assistant and associate head coach of Indian descent in NCAA history, Dalip Bhatia serves as Associate Head Coach at Marist University.
At the time of his promotion, Head Coach John Dunne stated, "Dalip has earned this promotion. He really has developed into an exceptional assistant coach. He's heavily involved in every aspect of our program. He's a tireless worker, a relentless recruiter, an excellent tactician on the court, and his loyalty is second to none. The program is fortunate to have him and I'm happy to announce that he's our new Associate Head Coach."
Bhatia is in his eighth season at Marist, and second as Associate Head Coach, in the 2025-26 season. It marks his 14th season overall working on a staff led by Dunne.
Bhatia has played a pivotal role in the resurgence of the Marist’s men’s basketball program. In the 2024-25 season, Marist achieved its fifth 20-win season in program history. The Red Foxes' 20 wins were the program's highest total in 18 years. Marist finished in the top three in the MAAC standings in back-to-back years during the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons. During the 2022-23 season, Marist made the MAAC championship game for the first time in program history. In the 2020-21 season, Bhatia helped the Red Foxes earn their first winning season in 13 years, and the program's best conference finish in 14 seasons.
In the summer of 2020, Bhatia was ranked #1 in a poll of top Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference assistants conducted by Jeff Goodman for WatchStadium.com.
Bhatia's responsibilities at Marist include working with all facets of the program, as he leads the recruiting efforts along with having a key role in game planning, advance scouting, and on-the-floor coaching. He is also in charge of the team’s non-conference schedule as well as handling all compliance related matters for the program.
Bhatia had two stints as an assistant coach for Dunne at Saint Peter’s from 2008-13, and the 2017-18 season. Bhatia was part of the Peacocks' staff when they captured the 2011 MAAC championship, and made the program's first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1995. During the 2009-10 and 2010-11 seasons, Saint Peter’s was second in the country in defensive field goal percentage at 37.7 percent and 37.6 percent, respectively.
He worked at his alma mater, Rutgers University, for three seasons from 2013-16. He served as Director of Basketball Operations from 2013-15 and was an assistant coach during the 2015-16 season. He worked under former NBA head coach Eddie Jordan. Bhatia's first collegiate coaching position came as an assistant coach at Kean University in the 2007-08 season.
Bhatia earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting from Rutgers University – School of Business in 2005. He worked within the financial services industry at Deloitte LLP from 2005-07. During his tenure with the firm, he began his coaching career, serving as a volunteer assistant boys’ varsity coach at North Brunswick High School.
