fiz hired at fresno state

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SoCalHoops Recruiting News

David Fizdale Hired As First
Assistant At Fresno State--(May 9, 2002)

Fresno State's new head coach Ray Lopes has been busy filling out his staff and looking for players, and he's hired one of our favorite guys, Dave "Fiz" Fizdale as the first assistant on his staff, luring him from the University of San Diego where he both played and coached as an assistant under head coach Brad Holland. Fresno State issued a press release last week on the hiring. Here's what the school had to say about Coach Fizdale:

Fizdale Named to Men's Basketball Coaching Staff
Head coach Ray Lopes hires a former University of San Diego
assistant as the first member of his staff.

FRESNO, Calif. - Newly hired Fresno State head basketball coach Ray Lopes announced the first addition of his coaching staff. David Fizdale, a former assistant coach and player at the University of San Diego, was hired today.

"I am extremely excited to have David join our program," said Lopes. "He is an outstanding floor coach and an outstanding recruiter. Most importantly, he is a man of great character and morals. He has great communications skills and is going to be very active on campus and in the community. David hails from Los Angeles and he is going to be a valuable recruiter in the Los Angeles area."

Fizdale joins the Bulldog coaching staff after serving as an assistant coach at the University of San Diego for four years. This past season he was the top assistant for coach Brad Holland. He was in charge of scheduling, served as the recruiting coordinator and worked with player development and on-floor coaching. Fizdale spent one season with the Miami Heat of the NBA as an assistant video coordinator, where he was in charge of video scouting for all NBA opponents and making "breakdown" tapes for player and coaches.

Fizdale graduated from USD in 1996 with a degree in communications and a minor in sociology. He was a starting point guard for three years and selected to the All-West Coast Conference team in 1996. He led the WCC in assists, averaging seven per game, and ranked ninth in the nation that year. Fizdale twice won the Bugelli Leadership Award and was named the team MVP and defensive player of the year as a senior. He owns the USD record for most assists in a game, a season (195) and career (465). Fizdale was named the outstanding sportsman of the year at USD as a senior.

Lopes plans to announce more additions to his staff in the near future.