Bio

Isaiah Cavaco was named head coach of the Lorain County Community College men’s basketball program in April of 2026, bringing more than 20 years of collegiate coaching experience to the Commodores.

Cavaco arrives at LCCC after serving as head coach at Earlham College, where he began a program rebuild during the 2025 season.  Prior to Earlham, he spent time at Terra State Community College in 2023, earning a win over the No. 7 Lakeland Community College in his first game and guiding the Titans to a 4-4 record during his tenure.

Cavaco is best known for his 17-year tenure as head coach at Oberlin College from 2006-2022, where he led the Yeomen through one of the most successful stretches in program history.  His teams produced the program’s best three-year win total from 2017-2020 and set a school record for conference victories in 2019.  In 2020, Oberlin recorded its first winning season since 1992 and finished one win shy of tying the school record for victories.  Cavaco also led the program to seven North Coast Athletic Conference Tournament appearances in his final nine seasons, including the team’s first postseason win in nearly three decades.

Throughout his career at Oberlin, Cavaco’s teams were known for their defensive identity, ranking among the best in program history in points allowed.  He mentored 20 All-NCAC selections, developed multiple school record holders, and helped 10 players continue their careers at the graduate or professional level.

Before becoming a head coach, Cavaco served as an assistant coach at Oberlin, John Carroll University, Yale University, and Ohio University.  He began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Ohio while earning his master’s degree in recreation and sports sciences in 2002.

A former student-athlete at Yale, Cavaco earned his bachelor’s degree in economics in 2001. He was a four-year letterwinner for the Bulldogs, making over 40 starts and earning the program’s rookie of the year honor.