Former Toronto Raptors star Damon Stoudamire has been named head coach of the NCAA’s University of the Pacific Tigers.
“I am humbled and honoured to be named head men’s basketball coach at University of the Pacific,” Stoudamire told the Associated Press. “I’m truly blessed to be able to lead our Tigers into the future!”
Stoudamire replaces Ron Verlin, who was suspended and subsequently fired as a result of NCAA violation allegations levied against him.
The 42-year-old Stoudamire has spent most of the past eight years bouncing around various assistant coaching gigs including a stint with the NBA’s Memphis Grizzlies, a job with his alma mater Arizona Wildcats and two go-arounds with the University of Memphis, including his most recent post.
He’s best remembered for his 13-season NBA career that included a rookie of the year honour in 1996 while playing for the Raptors in their inaugural season.
Stoudamire joins a Pacific team that finished seventh in the West Coast Conference with a 6-12 record and an 8-20 record overall.
The Tigers have made nine NCAA tournament appearances in their history with the most recent coming in 2013, a Round-of-64 loss to the University of Miami Hurricanes, 79-48.
Some of Pacific’s notable alumni include former 13-season NBA veteran and television analyst Jon Barry and 1998 first-overall pick Michael Olowokandi.
