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By Ralph D. Russo, Brendan Marks and Matt Baker
Florida State is targeting Sacramento Kings assistant coach and FSU alumnus Luke Loucks as its next men’s basketball coach, two sources familiar with the negotiations confirmed to The Athletic.
If a deal is finalized, Loucks will replace Leonard Hamilton, one of the winningest coaches in ACC history. ESPN first reported that Loucks was the Seminoles’ top target.
Loucks played for Hamilton as a Florida State guard from 2008 to 2012. The Seminoles made the NCAA Tournament in each of those four seasons and advanced to the Sweet 16 in 2011. Florida State also won the ACC tournament in 2012.
The 34-year-old Clearwater, Fla. native bounced around professionally as a player before winning two NBA titles as a Golden State Warriors staffer. He also spent time working for the Phoenix Suns. Loucks has never coached collegiately or been a head coach at any level. One of the key factors in the hiring process was Florida State’s willingness to commit the resources necessary to compete at a high level.
Hamilton, 76, announced last month that he would retire at the end of this season (his 23rd as Florida State’s coach). His 459 wins with the Seminoles are the most in Florida State history and fifth-most in the ACC behind only Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski, North Carolina’s Dean Smith and Roy Williams and Maryland’s Gary Williams.
Hamilton’s Seminoles went 122-41 from 2017 to 2021 and had a Final Four contender in March 2020 before the COVID-19 shutdown. But his program has stalled and enters Saturday’s regular-season finale 16-14 (7-12 in the ACC).
Duke assistant Chris Carrawell was among the other candidates in consideration.
(Photo: Darren Yamashita / Imagn Images)
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