On Monday, former NBA Rookie of the Year Damon Stoudamire returned to college, this time as the new head coach of Georgia Tech’s men’s basketball team.
Stoudamire was hired after the program fired Josh Pastner and he’s now the 15th head coach in program history.
“We are thrilled that Damon Stoudamire will be the head coach of our storied men’s basketball program,” said Georgia Tech director of athletics J Batt. “Coach Stoudamire’s success and credibility as a player and coach at both the collegiate and professional levels make him a great fit to lead our program. He will serve as an outstanding mentor on and off the court and will attract talented student-athletes to The Flats. We could not be happier to welcome Coach Stoudamire to the Georgia Tech family.”
Stoudamire, the first-ever pick by the Toronto Raptors in the 1995 NBA Draft which they hosted, arrives at Georgia Tech after spending a little under two seasons as an assistant coach with the Boston Celtics.
Prior to his time in Boston, Stoudamire spent ten years (2011-21) coaching at the collegiate level for programs such as Pacific, Memphis and his Alma mater, Arizona. He also spent two years with the Grizzlies (2009-11) and one year with Rice University.
The former Arizona Wildcats star point guard was an All-American and finalist for the College Player of the Year. The seventh overall pick, Stoudamire played for the Raptors, Trailblazers, Grizzlies and Spurs, spending over 12 years in the NBA.
After finishing his NBA career, he returned to Arizona in 2008 and earned his bachelor’s degree.
Now, after more than a decade as an assistant coach, Stoudamire gets to helm his own team.
“I am humbled and honored to be the head coach at Georgia Tech,” Stoudamire said. “It is an incredible honor to be entrusted with leading such a tradition-rich program. I am excited to get to work with the goal of consistently having our team compete at the championship level that we all know we can and should compete at. I’m proud to represent Georgia Tech and can’t wait to walk out of the tunnel and onto the floor at the Thrillerdome in front of our fans. Go Jackets!”
Congrats coach Stoudamire!
