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| Name = Steve Lavin |
| Name = Steve Lavin |
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| Caption = Former [[UCLA]] head coach and current [[ESPN]]<br />college basketball analyst Steve Lavin. |
| Caption = Former [[UCLA]] head coach and current [[ABC]] and [[ESPN]]<br />college basketball analyst Steve Lavin. |
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| DateOfBirth = {{birth date|1964|9|4|mf=y}} |
| DateOfBirth = {{birth date|1964|9|4|mf=y}} |
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| Title = [[Head Coach]] |
| Title = [[Head Coach]] |
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| Awards = 1997 International Inspiration Award from the Hugh O’Brien Youth Foundation (HOBY)<br />1998 Lavin was honored by his alma mater as the [[Chapman University]] Alumnus of the Year (also serves as Board of Governors at Chapman University)<br />1998 Honorary member of the Golden Key National Honor Society at [[UCLA]]<br />2005 Distinguished Alumni award from the Dodge College of Film and Media Arts from [[Chapman University]]<br /> |
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| Awards = 2001 [[Pacific Ten Conference|Pac-10]] Coach of the Year<br>1997 National Rookie Coach of the Year |
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| Championships = Honors <br />1997 National Rookie Coach of the Year<br />1997 NABC Dist. 15 and USBWA Dist. 9 Coach of the Year |
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| Championships = 1997 [[Pacific Ten Conference|Pac-10]] Champions |
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Six consecutive NCAA Tournaments (1997-2002)<br />1997 NCAA Elite 8<br />Five NCAA Sweet 16s in six seasons <br />1998 Final Four in San Antonio, he was the head coach of the West squad in the NABC All-Star Game<br />2001 Pacific-10 Coach of the Year honors |
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| Coach = Y |
| Coach = Y |
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| CoachYears = |
| CoachYears = 1988-1991<br />1991-1996<br />1996-2003 |
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| CoachTeams = [[UCLA]] |
| CoachTeams = [[Purdue]] Assnt. Coach <br />[[UCLA]] Assnt. Coach<br />[[UCLA]] Head Coach |
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'''Steve Lavin''' (born [[September 4]], |
'''Steve Lavin''' (born [[September 4]],[[1964]]), a [[San Francisco, California]] native is a former college basketball coach and current [[ABC]] and [[ESPN]] TV analyst. As [[UCLA]] head basketball coach from 1996-2003, Lavin compiled a record of 145-78. |
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==Assistant Coaching== |
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Lavin's coaching career began in 1988 when he was hired as an assistant by legendary Big Ten Purdue head coach Gene Keady. After three years of experience on the Boilermaker’s staff, Lavin was offered an opportunity to come back west when UCLA head coach Jim Harrick hired him as a Bruin assistant in 1991. Lavin was an assistant coach on the Bruins 1995 National Championship team that finished with a 32-1 record. |
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==Head Coaching== |
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On November 6, 1996 UCLA coach Jim Harrick was fired by the school administration amid recruiting violations and Lavin was immediately promoted to the position of interim head coach. Lavin had spent five years as an assistant on the Bruin's staff, before being promoted to interim head coach just weeks before the start of 1996-1997 college basketball season. Later that same season on Feb. 11, 1997, with the Bruins tied for first place in the Pac-10 with a conference record of 8-3, Lavin was rewarded by having the interim tag lifted to become UCLA’s 11th head coach in school history. After Lavin was named permanent head coach, the Bruins won their next 11 games. In his inaugural season as head coach, Lavin directed the Bruins to the 1997 Pac-10 Championship and the NCAA Elite Eight with an overall record of 24-8. |
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During Lavin’s tenure as head coach, the Bruins qualified for six consecutive NCAA Tournaments (1997-2002). During this period, Lavin became one of two coaches (along Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski) to have led his team to five NCAA Sweet 16s in six seasons. Lavin’s record in the first and second rounds of the NCAA tournament is 10-1. Lavin’s winning percentage (90.9%) in the first two rounds, is second only to Dean Smith in NCAA Tournament history. |
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In seven seasons as head coach Lavin’s record was 12-4 in games involving overtime. In one stretch (1997-2002) Lavin’s Bruins compiled nine consecutive overtime victories, including victories over Arizona, Cincinnati (2002 NCAA second round double overtime victory over No. 1 West Region seed), Kentucky, and over then #1 ranked Stanford). |
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==Background== |
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Lavin's coaching career began in 1988 when he was hired by legendary [[Purdue]] coach [[Gene Keady]] as a graduate assistant (and future assistant coach). While at Purdue, Lavin worked alongside Keady assistants and future head coaches [[Bruce Weber (coach)|Bruce Weber]] and [[Kevin Stallings]]. He would leave Purdue in 1992 to take an assistant's position with UCLA. After four years on the Bruin's staff, Lavin was named the head coach at UCLA in late 1996 shortly after [[Jim Harrick]] was fired for a recruiting scandal. At age 32, Lavin became one of the youngest head coaches in America. |
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Lavin directed his Bruin teams to victory over the No. 1 team in the country in four consecutive collegiate seasons (Arizona ’03, Kansas ’02, Stanford ’01, and Stanford ’00). |
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==UCLA tenure== |
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Lavin was scrutinzed by [[University of California, Los Angeles|UCLA]] fans from the beginning of his tenure. Originally intended to be an interim head coach, Lavin coached the Bruins to the [[Pacific 10 Conference]] Championship and the [[Elite Eight]] of the [[NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship|NCAA Tournament]] in 1997 (his first year) and was subsequently signed to a long-term deal worth more than $2 million. The Lavin years would produce six 20-win seasons with five [[Sweet 16]] appearances. Despite UCLA's success, [[Pacific Ten Conference|Pac 10]] rivals [[University of Arizona|Arizona]] and [[Stanford University|Stanford]] overtook UCLA as the dominant teams in the conference, with Arizona winning a national title in [[1997]] and reaching the Final Four in 2001, and Stanford becoming an almost perennial number 1 seed in the [[NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship|NCAA Tournament]]. After the 1997 season, none of Lavin's teams received higher than a 4 seed. |
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As head coach at UCLA, Lavin and his staff recruited and signed the No. 1 rated recruiting class in the country in 1998 and 2001. Lavin signed seven McDonald’s High School All-Americans. |
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==Criticisms== |
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Seven of Lavin’s former Bruin recruits are currently roster members of NBA teams: Trevor Ariza (Orlando Magic), Matt Barnes (Golden State Warriors), Baron Davis (Golden State Warriors), Dan Gadzuric (Milwaukee Bucks), Ryan Hollins (Charlotte Bobcats), Jason Kapono (Toronto Raptors), and Earl Watson (Seattle Super Sonics). As a result, the Bruins have the longest collegiate streak in the country of consecutive years having a player drafted to the NBA. |
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Overall, even while winning, most UCLA fans considered Lavin's teams to underachieve. Despite bringing in incredible recruiting classes every year (two classes were the best in the country), Lavin's teams often lacked energy and spirit and would often play their way out of contention. Lavin was unable to win the Pac-10 conference despite having a lineup which featured five future NBA players. Rumors floated that the team's practices were little more than glorified shootarounds. Lavin's substitution patterns were unusual -- at times, he would send five new players on to the floor at one time, seriously diminishing any momentum his team might have built. On top of that, players never seemed to develop, the best example being [[Jason Kapono]] who seemed to regress from his freshman to senior year under Lavin. ([[Baron Davis]] has publicly criticized Lavin for not helping his players grow). However, his teams would make amazing run at the end of the conference season and make it back to the [[Sweet 16]] where they would promptly exit- an example of the frustrating inconsistency under Lavin would be their demolishing of a good Maryland team in the 2nd round of the NCAA tournament in 2000 followed by a weak performance in the Sweet 16 against Iowa State. Nonetheless, his late season success and consistent appearances in the Sweet 16 made it impossible for the UCLA administration to fire Lavin, despite his lack of popularity with students. Some apologists for Lavin maintain that he was a successful coach due to his ability to reach the Sweet 16 every year and call UCLA fans' standard of success unreasonable, but this view appears to be decidedly in the minority given the quick success and popularity of his successor, Ben Howland. |
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As both an assistant and head coach, Lavin participated in 13 consecutive NCAA tournament appearances (1990-2002), while working at Purdue University and UCLA. |
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The lackluster 2002-2003 season finally provided the UCLA athletic department the excuse it needed to part ways with their much maligned coach. After compiling a 10-19 record, one of the rare losing campaigns in UCLA men's basketball history since the Wooden era, it was announced that Lavin's replacement would be sought after the team had completed its slate of games. Of these final games, the penultimate was undoubtedly the season's highlight. After barely qualifying for the [[Pac-10 Tournament]] with its lowest seeding ever, #8, UCLA took Pac-10 and national #1 Arizona to overtime on a last-second three-pointer by senior guard Ray Young. In the extra period, the Bruins pulled the upset and defeated the Wildcats but promptly lost their subsequent game, the last of the season, to [[University of Oregon|Oregon]]. Lavin's tenure ended with a perfect example of the puzzling inconsistency and underachieving that led to his dismissal. However, as that painful season wore on, many commentators realized that he would be fired. Lavin himself seemed to realize this, but handled the situation with equanimity. He has never expressed bitterness towards UCLA or any of his athletic directors, even during the 2001 "Pitino Incident," in which UCLA's athletic director, [[Peter Dalis]] openly admitted that he had been speaking with then-unemployed basketball coach [[Rick Pitino]]. Lavin avoided being fired that season by coaching the Bruins into the Sweet 16 where they lost a competitive game to the eventual national champions, [[Duke]]. |
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In March of 2003, Lavin had his first losing season (10-19) as a head coach and was relieved of his duties. Throughout his final days as head coach, Lavin expressed only gratitude for his twelve year association with the Bruins, as a result, Lavin had a uniquely amicable departure from UCLA. |
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==Television career== |
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==ABC and ESPN TV Career== |
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[[North Carolina State University]] reportedly offered Lavin its head men's basketball coaching position for the 2006-2007 season, but ESPN reported on [[April 26]] that Lavin refused the job and would remain with the network. |
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| ⚫ | After being relieved of his duties at UCLA, Lavin shortly thereafter, agreed to a multi-year broadcasting deal with ABC and ESPN. Lavin makes regular appearances on ESPN College GameNight and also provides color-commentary alongside his partner Brent Musburger at Primetime College games around the country. Lavin’s broadcast analyst perspective was forged over 15 years as a Division I college basketball coach at both UCLA and Purdue University. |
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Steve Lavin is frequently an invited keynote speaker throughout the country for business, community and collegiate events. He addresses a wide range of topics including effective communication, motivation, management, recruiting, leadership, and naturally, college basketball. |
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In April 2007, Lavin's name surfaced among those possible replacements for Mark Turgeon at Wichita State University. It is unknown if Lavin has ever visited The Cedar. |
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==Coaching Opportunities== |
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Some Shocker fans expressed doubt that California cool would work in the heartland. |
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In April of 2006 Lavin strongly considered a return to the coaching ranks when presented with the opportunity to become the head basketball coach of the North Carolina State University Wolfpack. Lavin instead chose to continue his broadcasting career and signed a new six year contract with ABC and ESPN that will keep him with the network through 2012. |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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Revision as of 01:48, 20 September 2007
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Steve Lavin (born September 4,1964), a San Francisco, California native is a former college basketball coach and current ABC and ESPN TV analyst. As UCLA head basketball coach from 1996-2003, Lavin compiled a record of 145-78.
Assistant Coaching
Lavin's coaching career began in 1988 when he was hired as an assistant by legendary Big Ten Purdue head coach Gene Keady. After three years of experience on the Boilermaker’s staff, Lavin was offered an opportunity to come back west when UCLA head coach Jim Harrick hired him as a Bruin assistant in 1991. Lavin was an assistant coach on the Bruins 1995 National Championship team that finished with a 32-1 record.
Head Coaching
On November 6, 1996 UCLA coach Jim Harrick was fired by the school administration amid recruiting violations and Lavin was immediately promoted to the position of interim head coach. Lavin had spent five years as an assistant on the Bruin's staff, before being promoted to interim head coach just weeks before the start of 1996-1997 college basketball season. Later that same season on Feb. 11, 1997, with the Bruins tied for first place in the Pac-10 with a conference record of 8-3, Lavin was rewarded by having the interim tag lifted to become UCLA’s 11th head coach in school history. After Lavin was named permanent head coach, the Bruins won their next 11 games. In his inaugural season as head coach, Lavin directed the Bruins to the 1997 Pac-10 Championship and the NCAA Elite Eight with an overall record of 24-8.
During Lavin’s tenure as head coach, the Bruins qualified for six consecutive NCAA Tournaments (1997-2002). During this period, Lavin became one of two coaches (along Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski) to have led his team to five NCAA Sweet 16s in six seasons. Lavin’s record in the first and second rounds of the NCAA tournament is 10-1. Lavin’s winning percentage (90.9%) in the first two rounds, is second only to Dean Smith in NCAA Tournament history.
In seven seasons as head coach Lavin’s record was 12-4 in games involving overtime. In one stretch (1997-2002) Lavin’s Bruins compiled nine consecutive overtime victories, including victories over Arizona, Cincinnati (2002 NCAA second round double overtime victory over No. 1 West Region seed), Kentucky, and over then #1 ranked Stanford).
Lavin directed his Bruin teams to victory over the No. 1 team in the country in four consecutive collegiate seasons (Arizona ’03, Kansas ’02, Stanford ’01, and Stanford ’00).
As head coach at UCLA, Lavin and his staff recruited and signed the No. 1 rated recruiting class in the country in 1998 and 2001. Lavin signed seven McDonald’s High School All-Americans. Seven of Lavin’s former Bruin recruits are currently roster members of NBA teams: Trevor Ariza (Orlando Magic), Matt Barnes (Golden State Warriors), Baron Davis (Golden State Warriors), Dan Gadzuric (Milwaukee Bucks), Ryan Hollins (Charlotte Bobcats), Jason Kapono (Toronto Raptors), and Earl Watson (Seattle Super Sonics). As a result, the Bruins have the longest collegiate streak in the country of consecutive years having a player drafted to the NBA.
As both an assistant and head coach, Lavin participated in 13 consecutive NCAA tournament appearances (1990-2002), while working at Purdue University and UCLA.
In March of 2003, Lavin had his first losing season (10-19) as a head coach and was relieved of his duties. Throughout his final days as head coach, Lavin expressed only gratitude for his twelve year association with the Bruins, as a result, Lavin had a uniquely amicable departure from UCLA.
ABC and ESPN TV Career
After being relieved of his duties at UCLA, Lavin shortly thereafter, agreed to a multi-year broadcasting deal with ABC and ESPN. Lavin makes regular appearances on ESPN College GameNight and also provides color-commentary alongside his partner Brent Musburger at Primetime College games around the country. Lavin’s broadcast analyst perspective was forged over 15 years as a Division I college basketball coach at both UCLA and Purdue University.
Steve Lavin is frequently an invited keynote speaker throughout the country for business, community and collegiate events. He addresses a wide range of topics including effective communication, motivation, management, recruiting, leadership, and naturally, college basketball.
Coaching Opportunities
In April of 2006 Lavin strongly considered a return to the coaching ranks when presented with the opportunity to become the head basketball coach of the North Carolina State University Wolfpack. Lavin instead chose to continue his broadcasting career and signed a new six year contract with ABC and ESPN that will keep him with the network through 2012.