Brian Kelly had strong opinions about the hiring of David Patr….
Sacramento State head coach David Patrick is returning to Baton Rouge to become an associate head coach for the Tigers, LSU men’s basketball head coach Matt McMahon said on Wednesday.
After spending two years as the head men’s coach at Sacramento State, Patrick—a seasoned collegiate and international coach with almost 20 years of experience—joins LSU.
Coach McMahon said, “I am immensely thrilled to welcome David Patrick and his family to our LSU coaching staff.” “He is a superb basketball coach and a top recruiter who has contributed to success at every location along his path. Coach Patrick is a huge asset to our program because of his success and experience. In addition to coaching in the Sweet 16 and Elite 8 stages of the NCAA Tournament, he has served as head coach of a Division I school and assistant coach of the Australian National Team, which won a bronze medal in the 2021 Olympics.
“I adore Coach Patrick’s dedication to relationship-building and player development. Throughout his tenure, he has recruited and assisted in the development of several NBA Draft choices. I’m excited about the fresh perspectives, solutions, and enthusiasm he’ll bring to our program. We are eager to begin this summer.
The previous two seasons, Sacramento State finished in the top 25 teams in the country and led the Big Sky Conference in rebound margins. His 2023–24 squad qualified for the conference tournament semifinals, marking the first time since the team’s 1996 league entry that they had won two games in the postseason.
Known as a top recruiter, Patrick was instrumental in helping LSU place in the top 5 recruiting classes in both 2013 and 2015. Ben Simmons, the top-ranked high school player in the class of 2015, currently plays for the Brooklyn Nets; Antonio Blakeney, ranked No. 15, is a star in the Chinese Basketball League; and Brandon Sampson, ranked No. 39, has carved out a successful professional career and is currently a member of the Canadian league.
The 48-year-old Patrick has coached 28 players who have gone on to play professionally, including 19 in the NBA, and he has recruited 11 players who have played in the NBA, including seven first-round selection picks.
