The Los Angeles D-Fenders have hired Reggie Theus as head coach, it was announced today by team President/CEO Joey Buss.
“We are pleased to welcome Reggie Theus to the D-Fenders,” said Buss. “Reggie’s extensive NBA background coupled with his experience developing players at the collegiate basketball level will make him a great asset to our franchise. We look forward to working with Reggie and building upon the record-setting season we had last year.”
Theus, who has over 11 years of coaching experience and played 13 seasons in the NBA, spent last season as a Pac-12 Analyst for Fox Sports Net after previously spending two seasons on the NBA sidelines as an assistant coach with Minnesota (2009-11). Prior to his stint in Minneapolis, Theus originally joined the NBA coaching ranks when he was named the 21st head coach in Sacramento Kings history.
“I am elated and thankful to have an opportunity to work for a first class organization like the D-Fenders,” said Theus. “Coaching for a franchise that has proven its commitment to developing young players for the next level while also maintaining a competitive team is exciting to me. I am looking forward to getting on the court and continuing the success that the D-Fenders experienced last season.”
Theus, a Los Angeles native, worked his way to the NBA from the collegiate level after spending two years as head coach at New Mexico State University. Hired in 2005, Theus guided the Aggies to a 16-14 record in his first season, marking a 10-win improvement from the previous season along with the best single-season turnaround at NMSU in 20 years. In 2006-07, Theus and the Aggies continued their success and posted a 25-9 record, won the Western Athletic Conference Tournament and earned a berth in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1999.
Before joining the Aggies, Theus began his coaching career as an assistant coach at the University of Louisville (2003-05). There he helped lead the Cardinals to the 2005 NCAA Final Four as well as a Conference USA Championship.
Theus, selected by the Chicago Bulls in the first round (9th overall) of the 1978 NBA Draft, played 13 seasons for Chicago, Kansas City/Sacramento, Atlanta, Orlando and New Jersey. Drafted out of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Theus, was a two-time NBA All-Star (1981, 1983) and named to the NBA All-Rookie Team (1979). In addition, Theus is one of only seven players in NBA history to score over 19,000 points and record over 6,000 assists during his career. A member of the UNLV Athletic Hall of Fame, the 6’7” shooting guard helped his team reach the 1977 NCAA Final Four and is one of only six players in school history to have their jersey retired.
Prior to his coaching stints in the NBA and at the collegiate level, Theus also served as a basketball analyst for ESPN, Fox Sports, and TNT/TBS.
Theus is a graduate of both California Coast University (B.S. Business Administration) and Central Michigan University (B.S. Public Administration).
