Head coach Mark Madsen has announced the hiring of Todd Okeson as an assistant coach on his men’s basketball staff at Utah Valley. Okeson comes to UVU after working on the basketball staff at the University of Nevada.
“I am thrilled to welcome Todd Okeson to the UVU staff,” said Madsen. “As a player, Todd was one of the smartest and toughest point guards in the country before his successful pro career in Europe. As a leader, Todd has spent eight years as a staff member at top programs across the western United States. As a person, Todd brings the highest level of integrity and tenacity to everything that he does. Todd brings success everywhere he goes. I couldn’t be more excited to welcome Todd, his wife Natalie, and their three children to Utah.”
Okeson most recently served as the assistant director of basketball operations for the Wolf Pack. He helped Nevada to a third consecutive Mountain West Conference regular season title and an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. The Wolf Pack wrapped up the 2018-19 season with a 29-5 overall record and an impressive 15-3 mark in MWC play. While at Nevada, Okeson worked with JaVale McGee who was selected by the Washington in the first round of the 2008 NBA Draft with the 18th overall pick.
Prior to Nevada, Okeson spent two seasons as the director of basketball operations at the University of Hawai`i. Before his time at UH, he was an assistant coach at Southern Utah from 2012-16. He was also named the interim head coach at SUU during a coaching transition in 2016.
Prior to Southern Utah, Okeson spent three years at the University of Georgia under coach Mark Fox as a graduate assistant and then as an operations assistant (2009-12). He also boasts experience in the pro ranks as an operations assistant with the Reno Bighorns of the NBDL (2008-09).
During his time at Georgia, Okeson worked with Kentavious Caldwell Pope, who was the SEC Player of the Year in 2013. Caldwell Pope was an NBA lottery pick as the Detroit Pistons selected him with the eighth overall pick. Okeson has worked with seven NBA Draft picks during his time as a collegiate coach.
The Kansas native played professionally in Europe and in the American Basketball Association and United States Basketball League. He then returned to Reno to begin his coaching career as a program assistant at Nevada in 2006.
Okeson played collegiately at Nevada for two seasons where he was the starting point guard on the 2004 Wolf Pack squad that captured the WAC championship and advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16.
“I cannot thank coach Madsen enough for this amazing opportunity,” said Okeson. “The experience he brings to his position is second to none. I can’t wait to get to work for such a great basketball mind and quality person. I’m incredibly grateful for the chance to be a part of the UVU athletics family, and I am committed to helping advance our program. On behalf of my family, we look forward to being a part of such a wonderful community. Go Wolverines!”
Okeson and his wife Natalie have a son, Gaines, and two daughters Micah and Campbell.
https://gouvu.com/news/2019/5/15/todd-okeson-named-assistant-mens-basketball-coach.aspx
