The Memphis Grizzlies have added Glynn Cyprien as a basketball operations assistant and scout, Grizzlies General Manager Chris Wallace announced today.
“Glynn is an outstanding talent evaluator who is as well connected on the grassroots and collegiate levels as anyone in the game,” Wallace said. “He has recruited and worked with many future NBA players and that experience will serve him well in his new position.”
According to the Grizzlies press release, Widely considered one of the top assistants and recruiters in the country during his years on the collegiate scene, Cyprien returns to the city of Memphis, where he helped guide the University of Memphis to 49 victories and consecutive postseason tournament appearances in two seasons (2009-11) as an assistant coach under Josh Pastner. The Tigers went 25-10 during the 2010-11 season, winning the Conference USA Tournament Championship and advancing to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Most recently, Cyprien served three seasons (2011-14) as associate head coach at Texas A&M University. Working directly with the Aggie guards, Cyprien oversaw the development of Elston Turner Jr. – the son of current Grizzlies assistant coach Elston Turner – who went on to capture First Team All-SEC and USBWA All-District honors after finishing third in the conference in scoring as a senior in 2012-13.
Prior to stops at the University of Kentucky (2007-09), the University of Arkansas (2006-07) and New Mexico State University (2005-06), Cyprien worked four seasons (2000-04) as an assistant on Eddie Sutton’s staff at Oklahoma State University and played a significant role in guiding current Grizzlies guard Tony Allen. With Cyprien on the staff, the Cowboys had a combined 97-32 record and earned four consecutive NCAA Tournament berths, going 31-4 and advancing to the 2004 NCAA Final Four in Cyprien’s final year in Stillwater.
Cyprien posted top-ranked recruiting classes as an assistant at UNLV (1995-2000) and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament in his one season (1994-95) at Western Kentucky University. He began his coaching career with stints at Jacksonville University (1991-94), Lamar University (1990-91) and the University of Texas-San Antonio (1987-90).
The New Orleans native lettered two seasons as a player at Southern University-New Orleans and earned his bachelor’s degree in physical education from UTSA in 2004.
