Head Coach

Tadeh Mardirosian’s basketball coaching career spans 27 years, both within the US and internationally.  He has worked alongside male and female students of all age groups and backgrounds, and his knowledge of the fundamentals and inner workings of the game have led to a wide plethora of successes.  

Coach Mardirosian began his career as the assistant coach of the Boys’ Varsity team at GHS from 2000-2015.  Since 2015, he has remained the backbone of the Girls Varsity program and led the team to a Pacific League championship in 2018 where he was honored with the “best coach of the league” title to compliment this win.  

In the summer of 2024, Tadeh led the Women’s Armenian National Team to participate in the European Small Countries Championship, a first-time endeavor in 14 years.  

In the summer of 2025, Tadeh lead the U16 Armenian Women’s team to the Silver Medal as they participated in the European C Division Championship held in Kosovo.

Suren has been the athletic director at AGBU MDS for the last 15 years. His passion for the game transitioned into a successful career in both coaching and officiating. He has proudly served as a head coach for the Armenia National Teams and various high school teams; he has coached with the U18 Boys, U16 Girls, U18 Girls, and U20 Women’s teams in international competitions. Through these experiences, Suren has represented Armenia on the global basketball stage, helping develop and mentor some of the country’s top young talents. 

At AGBU MDS, Suren has been instrumental in expanding athletic opportunities for students, strengthening programs, and fostering a culture of discipline, teamwork, and sportsmanship. His coaching philosophy emphasizes fundamentals, hard work, and resilience, while also ensuring that athletes enjoy the process of growth and competition.

In addition to coaching, Suren has an extensive background as a professional basketball officiant. He has officiated games for the NBA (National Basketball Association), Continental Basketball Association (CBA), USBL (United States Basketball Association) and the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA-China), and currently at the high school level. His unique experience as both a coach and an official provides him with a well-rounded perspective on the game, discipline, and leadership.

contact: suren@armeniawbb.com

Meri Grigoryan is a highly accomplished basketball player. She is a three-time basketball champion in Armenia and the league MVP for 2024 and 2025 seasons, solidifying her status as one of the top players in Armenia.

Grigoryan's talent was evident early on, as she represented Armenia in the U18 and U20 National Teams, showcasing her potential on the international stage. She later progressed to the senior National Team.

As the team captain of Foxes Yerevan, Grigoryan led her squad to the Eurocup games. She demonstrated dedication and true leadership for her teammates.  She has become a respected figure in the basketball community, both in Armenia and abroad. 

Grigoryan has now joined the coaching staff for Armenia's National U16 team. 

Aileen Babadjanians brings a wealth of experience to her role as the Assistant Coach for the Armenia National Women's Basketball team.  Babadjanians' journey includes numerous appearances in international basketball. Pertaining to basketball in Armenia, Babadjanians competed in the Pan Armenian Games in 2007, 2011, 2019, and 2023. 

Beyond her stellar playing career, Aileen holds her Armenian heritage close to her heart. She deeply values her roots and embraces Armenian culture in all aspects of her life, instilling a sense of pride and tradition in her coaching approach.  Aileen's commitment to preserving and promoting Armenian identity enriches her interactions with players and fosters a strong sense of unity within the team.   With a strong focus on player development, both technically and personally, all while emphasizing the importance of cultural heritage, Aileen's dedication to the sport and her unwavering connection to her Armenian heritage make her an invaluable addition to the coaching staff of the Armenia National Women's Basketball team. 

Babadjanians has now joined the coaching staff for Armenia's National U16 team. 

contact: aileen@armeniawbb.com

Liana Esmaili began her basketball career at Crescenta Valley High School in 2011, playing four years and earning varsity spots during her junior and senior seasons before graduating in 2015. Her time as a player helped her develop a strong understanding of the game’s strategy and competitiveness, which led her to pursue coaching.

She has been part of the Crescenta Valley High School coaching staff for the past 10 years. Liana served as a freshman assistant coach from 2016–2018, freshman head coach from 2018–2020, and JV head coach during the 2020–2021 season. Since 2021, she has been the varsity assistant coach.

Over her coaching career, Liana has helped lead teams to nine league titles across multiple levels. She brings energy, leadership, and a competitive spirit to every program she is part of and looks forward to contributing to the continued growth of the Armenia basketball teams.

contact: liana@armeniawbb.com

Manuk Grigoryan leads HAT BC.

In 2015, Manuk Grigoryan founded the HAT Basketball Club in Yerevan. Currently, more than 150 boys and girls train at the club. As the head coach, Manuk Grigoryan leads 10 teams competing in the Armenian U12, U14, U16, and U18 boys’ championships, as well as the U12, U14, and U16 girls’ championships.

In addition, Manuk also leads the team in the Armenian Women’s Championship.

During the 2023/24 and 2024/25 seasons, he was recognized as the most decorated coach in Armenia.

In 2025, as an assistant coach of the Armenia U16 women’s national team, he became the runner-up in the European Division C Championship.

With 35 years in the game and over 10 years of coaching experience, Zareh has helped athletes develop the skills, confidence, and mindset needed to compete, and win, at the next level.

A former All-American, Conference Player of the Year, and professional player in Europe and the ABA, Zareh has competed at every stage of the game.  His career includes induction into the Ventura County, Cal Lutheran University, and Hoover High School Halls of Fame—a reflection of both performance and longevity.

Today, he specializes in elite player development, focusing on game-ready fundamentals, basketball IQ, and the habits that separate good players from great ones.  His mission is simple: maximize your potential and elevate your game.