Ahelegbe got his start in coaching after he served as the club director for 43Hoops Basketball Academy, founded by former NBA player Chris Carr, from 2007-2010. He was able to develop over 20 Division I players and over 40 scholarship athletes during that time. His network with players and coaches in the north earned him a spot as an assistant coach at his alma mater, Minnesota State, where he helped the Mavericks to a 25-5 record and a number one seed in the NCAA DII Tournament in his lone season. It was the first time Ahelegbe had been back since being team captain for the team. Ahelegbe moved on to North Dakota from 2011-14 where he helped the program to back-to-back Great West Conference Tournament Championships and three consecutive trips to the postseason. His successful run at North Dakota led him to South Dakota where much of the same trend continued. During his five years at South Dakota, the program has turned in three 20-win seasons, set a school record for wins in a season, won one regular season championship, advanced to one NIT Tournament, and have reached as high as No. 3 in the Mid-Major Top 25 poll.