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San Diego Hires Iowa State Assistant JR Blount as Men’s Basketball Head Coach

He brings a recruiting pedigree plus a defense-first profile to revive a program absent from the NCAA Tournament since 2008.

Overview

  • The university announced the hire Monday after a national search, with athletic director Kimya Massey praising Blount’s leadership, integrity and program-building vision.
  • Blount replaces Steve Lavin, who was let go last month following a 12-21 season and a stretch with only one winning record in seven years.
  • Over five seasons at Iowa State under T.J. Otzelberger, Blount helped shape multiple NCAA Tournament teams highlighted by two Sweet 16 runs and top-tier defensive metrics.
  • This marks Blount’s first Division I head-coaching role after assistant stops at Colorado State, Drake and Saint Leo, following a captaincy as a player at Loyola Chicago.
  • Early tasks include assembling a coaching staff, reshaping the roster and jump-starting recruiting to begin the Toreros’ rebuild.