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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 HEAD MEN’S COACH

New Mexico State Athletics Director Dr. McKinley Boston named 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 , 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

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, , and Theus was an interregnal part of the Cardinals’ ) 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 , 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 Bulls, Kansas City/, , 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 (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 at UNLV • In his final season in 1991, Theus averaged 18.6 points per for head coach 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, attempts, free throws, attempts, free throw percentage, assists, steals and games. points. In 1989, Theus was inducted into the UNLV • Theus led the NBA in games played in 1979, 1985 and 1989. Ahtletic Hall of Fame and in 1997, he became one of only six players in school • Theus was taken in the expansion in 1990 by the Orlando history to have his jersey retired by the Magic and played on their first team. Rebels. City/Sacramento Kings, Atlanta Hawks, Orlando As a sophomore, Theus helped lead UNLV into the Magic and New Jersey Nets. After being drafted national spotlight as the Rebels went 29-3, by the Bulls as the ninth overall pick in 1978, advancing to the school's first Final Four in Theus finished runner-up in the NBA Rookie of the Atlanta, Ga. Despite losing by a single to Year voting to Kansas City's and was North Carolina in the semifinals, UNLV defeated named to the 1979 All-Rookie team. UNC-Charlotte in the third-place game and set NCAA single-season records for most points in a Theus is one of only five players in NBA history season (3,426), most 100-point games (23) and score at least 19,000 points and dish out 6,000 most consecutive 100-point games (12). He aver- assists, joining , Oscar Robertson, aged 14.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 4.3 assists John Stockton and Jerry West with that distinc- per game while shooting 81.8 percent from the tion. When Theus retired he ranked 22nd on the charity stripe and 49.7 percent from the field as a NBA's all-time scoring list with 19,105 career sophomore. points and 11th on the all-time assists list with 6,453 career assists. Over his 13-year career, Theus averaged 18.5 points, 6.3 assists and 3.3 Theus’ UNLV Highlights rebounds a game while being named to the 1981 and 1983 NBA All-Star teams. • Theus was inducted into the UNLV Ahtletic Hall of Fame and in 1997, he became one of only six play- In 1992-93, Theus spent one season playing pro- ers in school history to have his jersey retired by the Rebels. fessionally in Italy with Ranger Varese. In 30 games with Ranger, Theus averaged 29.3 points, • As a sophomore, Theus helped lead UNLV into 5.4 assists and 3.9 rebounds a game. Theus was the national spotlight as the Rebels went 29-3, the league’s second leading scorer and leader in advancing to the school's first ever Final Four. assists that season. • As a junior, Reggie was named a second team A l l -American after ave raging 18.9 points, 6.8 After retiring from professional basketball in rebounds and 4.5 assists per game. 1993, Theus spent nearly a decade as an actor and television sports broadcaster. He served as an • Ranks 21st all-time in school history with 1,177 NBA analyst for Turner Sports, ESPN and was a points. Former Pitino Assistants And Players That but more importantly they are getting a great Are Current Head Coaches person with good morals and a hunger to be suc- cessful. Reggie is someone that will put New (assistant), Mexico State back on the college basketball map. Head Coach, Murray State I’m very happy and excited for him as he begins Billy Donovan (player and assistant), a new challenge in his life.” Head Coach, University of Florida Travis Ford (player), Jackie Robinson, former teammate at UNLV Head Coach, University of Massachusetts and Chicago Bulls: Jim O'Brien (assistant), “In my opinion, I think he was one of the great- Head Coach, Philadelphia 76'ers est basketball players of all time at the college John Pelphrey (player), and professional levels. His work ethic is second Head Coach, University of South Alabama to none, but most important he is a quality per- Herb Sendek (assistant), son. I think New Mexico State made a great Head Coach, North Carolina State choice with Reggie. He is a 47-year-old coach with (assistant), a 19-year-old heart that can relate to student- Head Coach, University of Kentucky athletes and recruits. Reggie will help New Mexico Ralph Willard (assistant), State become a top notch program and I’m excit- Head Coach, Holy Cross ed for Reggie and his opportunity.” As a junior, Reggie was named a second team All- , former NMSU and NBA player American after ave raging 18.9 points, 6.8 and teammate of Theus at the Chicago Bulls: rebounds and 4.5 assists per game. “Reggie’s knowledge of the game of basketball is remarkable. Having played a lot of years in the Before attending UNLV, Theus was a standout at NBA and having coached under some of the Inglewood High School. As a senior, he averaged greatest minds in the game like Rick Pitino, real- 28.5 points and 15.5 rebounds a game while lead- ly gives Reggie a tremendous edge as far as ing the Sentinels to the semifinals of the 4A CIF coaching is concerned. He will be a great recruiter state tournament. He was named the team’s most for New Mexico State. I know if I was a young stu- valuable player three straight years and led the dent-athlete that wanted to play at the next level, squad to back-to-back Bay League championships I would want to come to NMSU and play under a in 1974 and 1975. coach like Reggie Theus that knows the game of basketball like he does. I’m extremely excited for Along with a successful career as both a player Reggie and New Mexico State.” and coach, Theus has also been an influential member of the communities where he and his , former teammate at the New family have lived. Among the charitable pro- Jersey Nets and colleague of Theus’ at Fox grams which have benefited from Theus' involve- Sports Net: ment are the National Committee to Prevent Child "Reggie is a fantastic hire for the Aggies. He Abuse, he was the spokesperson for the NBA's brings a great knowledge of the game, a relent- Stay in School Program, “Rap with Reggie” and less competitive attitude and is a proven winner. Reggie Theus' Trikes for Kids. With Reggie Theus at the helm, I expect the Aggies to be on top in no time." Theus and his wife Elaine have three children; Raquel, Reggie and Ryan. Lou Henson, former New Mexico State head men’s basketball coach: Thoughts on Reggie Theus: “I followed Reggie through his college days at UNLV and his career at the professional level. Dave Yanai, former Cal State Los Angeles Playing under a coach like Jerry Tarkanian and head coach: then coaching under Rick Pitino has really given “I have known Reggie for many years, from his him the tools to be successful as a head coach. He high school days, to his playing days at the col- should be able to relate to the players and the key lege and professional levels. I have also had the for him will be recruiting. It doesn’t matter how opportunity to coach with him at Cal State-Los good of a coach you are, you have to be able to Angeles. He is a tough-minded individual with a recruit and I think Reggie will do a great job of great knowledge of the game of basketball. New that, especially with his connections in California Mexico State is getting a great coach in Reggie, and the west coast.”