Mustafa Sulaiman wasn’t looking for another job, but one came looking for him.
Sulaiman is a familiar figure in Chicago-area prep basketball circles as the creator of the Xposure Runs podcast and the Chitown Showcase for uncommitted players trying to raise their recruiting profile.
Now he’s also the head coach at Universal. Sulaiman was hired by the Bridgeview school after Jamal Ibrahim stepped down to take a position as student manager for the Chicago State men’s team.
“He reached out and asked if I’d be interested (in the job),” Sulaiman said.
At first, Sulaiman wasn’t sure. His son Xavier is playing college basketball at Indiana Tech, and being able to see his son play when possible is a priority.
Plus, he said, “the Xposure Runs events keep me pretty busy.”
But Sulaiman eventually decided the position was a good fit.
“Universal is an Islamic school,” he said. “I felt it was something I was equipped to do.”
He has previous coaching experience from his time as a dean at Excel Academy in Chicago. He was an assistant coach at Excel’s Englewood campus from 2013-15 and then head coach at the Roseland campus from 2015-18.
Universal was 9-19 overall last season and 4-5 in the Metro Prep Conference. The Stars have some returning talent, led by senior guard Abdullah Elzebak.
“The kids have been very welcoming,” Sulaiman said. “They’re very excited.”
Another plus: Universal plans to open a new gym on campus early in 2025.
Sulaiman, who also works for the Broadview Park District, plans to continue doing the podcast. He also has a couple of events scheduled: the Chitown Showcase on Oct. 27 and an unsigned senior showcase in March.
“I do plan on doing that,” Sulaiman said of the former. “That’s my baby.”