Mark Madsen hired as head coach at Utah Valley

Mark Madsen has been hired as head coach at Utah Valley after spending six years in the Los Angeles Lakers organization. He had been an assistant under head coaches Luke Walton and Byron Scott for the last five seasons,

“[Madsen] knows what it takes to succeed in basketball and in life,” UVU president Astrid S. Tuminez said on Sunday. “With his strengths and experience, he will inspire our student-athletes in and out of competition, and will help us build even stronger relationships with our broader UVU community.”

Before joining Johnny Dawkins‘ staff at Stanford in 2012, Madsen earned his MBA from the school. This will be the first collegiate head coaching role for the 43-year-old coach, who has been in the pro ranks since 2013.

“Utah Valley University is an amazing institution, and I’m excited to be the new head coach at the largest and fastest-growing school in the state of Utah,” Madsen said in a release. “I can’t wait to get to work and start helping our players achieve their goals.”

In addition to coaching experience, Madsen spent nine years as an NBA player with the Lakers and Timberwolves. He won two NBA titles with LA and is remembered by fans for his dance moves during the ensuing victory parades. In college, he earned All-Pac-10 honors after his junior and senior years with the Cardinal and was drafted in the first round of the 2000 NBA Draft (29th overall).

credit to ESPN for the photo