Director: Sean Johnson (505-646-1805) Assistant: Tyler Dunkel (505-646-2927) Interns: Jessica Schmick (505) 646-3929, Garret Ward (505) 646-3269 Fax: (505-646-2425) Johnson @ home (505-527-0675, cell 649-8136) E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected] Website: www.nmstatesports.com NEW MEXICO STATE NAMES REGGIE THEUS HEAD MEN’S BASKETBALL COACH New Mexico State Athletics Director Dr. McKinley Boston named University of Louisville assistant coach, 13-year NBA veteran and two- time NBA All-Star Reggie Theus as the school's new head men's basketball coach. Theus, who replaces retired Hall of Fame head coach Lou Henson, is the 22nd head coach in program his- tory. "I am very excited about the leadership that Reggie will bring to the New Mexico State men's basketball program,” Boston said. “I know he will get the attention of our student-athletes. His approach to hard work and discipline is a part of what defines him and it's going to take a lot of hard work to get our program back to where we want it to be. He's learned from one Reggie Theus Highlights of the best in the profession and I think he's going to provide great leadership for our bas- • Assistant Coach at Univeristy of Louisville under ketball team." head coach Rick Pitino Theus spent the past two seasons as an assis- • 1 of only 5 players in NBA history to score 19,000 tant coach at the University of Louisville under career points and 6,000 career assists (John head coach Rick Pitino. While at Louisville, Havlicek, Oscar Robertson, John Stockton and Theus was an interregnal part of the Cardinals’ Jerry West) run to the Final Four, the 2005 Conference USA regular season and tournament titles while • In 1989, Theus was inducted into the UNLV helping lead the program to back-to-back 20- Ahtletic Hall of Fame and in 1997, he became one win seasons and a pair of NCAA Tournament of only six players in school history to have his jer- appearances. This past weekend, Theus helped sey retired by the Rebels. guide Louisville back to the Final Four for the • Theus spent nearly a decade as an actor and first time since their national title run in 1986. television sports broadcaster. He served as an NBA analyst for Turner Sports, ESPN and was a co-star Now it is time for Theus to take the next step on the Fox Sports Net program "The Best Damn and he couldn’t be happier about leading the Sports Show Period." Aggies. • Head Coach of Las Vegas Slam (ABA) (2002) “When you talk about what attracted me to New Mexico State basketball, I think you can sell the wants to get back to where Aggie basketball was future of the program,” Theus said. “Everyone in the early 1990's. There are so many things I from President Martin, to Dr. Boston to the fac- like about New Mexico State, including the move ulty are all on the same page and everyone to the WAC. That makes this an extremely solid head coaching job.” The Low Down on Reggie Theus Theus believes that his nearly Playing Experience: High School -- Exceptional player at Inglewood High in Los Angeles, Ca. College -- Scored 1,177 points in his three seasons at UNLV (1976- three decades in and around the 78), helping the Runnin’ Rebels reach the 1977 Final Four his sophomore season. game of basketball will help him His jersey number 23 is retired by the Rebels. Professional -- Spent 13 years in the adjust to his new position. NBA with the Chicago Bulls, Kansas City/Sacramento Kings, Atlanta Hawks, Orlando Magic and NewJersey Nets. Finished as runner-up in the NBA Rookie of the Year voting in 1979 and laterwas a two-time All-Star with the Chicago Bulls (1981, “I have 30 years of basketball 1983). experiences. A lot of those years as a player, especially on the colle- Education: Completed a bachelor's degree in business administration from California Coast University in 2002, after beginning his collegiate education with giate level,” Theus said. “My years three years at UNLV (1976-78); graduate of Inglewood High School in Los Angeles, of playing in the NBA and being an Calif. analyst are all great experiences that have helped me in my coach- Personal Data: Born Oct. 13, 1957 in Los Angeles, Ca. Married to the former Elaine Hopson. Three children: Raquel (15), Reggie (10) and Ryan (6). ing career. I have worked and talked with some of the best minds “I think all the things I have done in my career in basketball. My two years at Louisville, coaching will help me recruit to New Mexico State,” Theus under Rick Pitino, caps off a very long career of said. “I got four players this year from the west learning the game of basketball.” coast to come play at Louisville next year. The traveling I did during my professional career and “I think coach Pitino has a blue print for success the acting jobs that I did all had a huge effect on when it comes to the game of basketball, Theus my ability to recruit. The funny thing is there are said. “He's coached for 31 years, has gone to sev- a lot of parents that remember me from my play- eral Final Fours and has been a head coach since ing days and a lot of student-athletes that he was 22 years old. There is nothing about his remember me from my time on television.” program that you couldn't take and implement into another program and not have a blue print Along with being instrumental in the Cardinals' for success. His work ethic is second to none and push to recruit the west coast, Theus also helped I don't know anybody that works harder than the Cardinals win a recruiting war for Kansas coach Pitino.” transfer David Padgett in 2004. Padgett, a McDonald's High School All-American, was also "Reggie will be one of the dynamic coaches in the being heavily recruited by the likes of UCLA and game. He has the total package,” Louisville head North Carolina. He started 19 games as a fresh- coach Rick Pitino said. “He's got great charisma, man for the Jayhawks and averaged 6.5 points is a terrific teacher and he has two of the most and 4.5 rebounds a game while blocking a team- important things it takes to be a head coach: high 43 shots. one, he's very dedicated; and two, he can bring in great players. Those two things will make New Theus' coaching resume includes a variety of Mexico State a contender in the WAC within a diverse experiences that should help the former couple of years." NBA All-Star adjust to his first Division I head coaching position. Before joining Pitino's staff at Along with being an excellent teacher on the prac- Louisville, Theus spent a year as a volunteer tice floor, Theus was also Louisville’s top recruiter, assistant at Cal State Los Angeles. He also helping the Cardinals sign a handful of the gained coaching experience as the head coach of nation's top high school players over the past two the Southern California All-Stars (17-and-under seasons. AAU Team) and as a summer league coach for the Philadelphia 76'ers and the Denver Nuggets. A native of Los Angeles, Calif., and an Inglewood High School graduate, Theus was able to utilize a In the spring of 2002, Theus led the Las Vegas vast network of connections throughout the Slam of the American Basketball Association to region to help Louisville land national letters of the Western Conference finals where they lost to intent from four highly recruited prep players on eventual champion Kansas City. the west coast this past fall, an area in which Pitino and Louisville had never recruited before Before turning his attention to the coaching pro- Theus' arrival. fession, Theus spent 13 years as a player in the NBA with the Chicago Bulls, Ka n s a s Theus' NBA Highlights co-star on the Fox Sports Net program "The Best Damn Sports Show Period." • Theus averaged 16.3 points per game his rookie year for the Chicago Bulls in 1979. Theus' extensive acting credits include playing Coach Bill Fuller for three years on • During his 13-year career, Theus averaged 20 points per game NBC's hit Saturday morning television four times during his NBA career (1980, 1983, 1987, 1988) show "Hang Time". including a career-best 23.8 points per game for Chicago in 1983. Theus played his college basketball at UNLV • In his final season in 1991, Theus averaged 18.6 points per for head coach Jerry Tarkanian from 1976 game for the New Jersey Nets. to 1978. In three seasons with the Runnin' Rebels, he ave raged 12.9 points, 4.4 • Theus played for the East all-stars in the 1981 and 1983 NBA assists and 4.3 rebounds per game. Theus, All-Star Game. who became one of the best players to ever • Theus played on four teams that advanced to the NBA playoffs don a UNLV uniform, shot 81 percent from - the 1981 Chicago Bulls, the 1984 Kansas City Kings, the 1986 the free-throw line for his career while Sacramento Kings and the 1989 Atlanta hawks. amassing 1,177 career points (21st on all- time scoring list), 401 career assists and • He ranks in the top 100 in NBA history in games played, min- 389 career rebounds in just 91 collegiate utes played, field goals, field goal attempts, free throws, free throw attempts, free throw percentage, assists, steals and games.