Rhode Island head coach David Cox has added veteran coach and URI alumnus Todd Bozeman to his staff, it was announced today.
Bozeman, who played for Rhode Island from 1982-86, has more than 20 years as a Division I coach to his credit, including 16 seasons as a head coach. His teams have been to five NCAA Championship tournaments, including one Sweet 16 appearance.
“Todd and I have known each other for a long time, and I have a tremendous respect both for his knowledge of the game and who he is as a leader,” Cox said. “Todd brings a veteran presence that is needed, one that I can lean on for support. His experience as a head coach, understanding all aspects of running a program, will be an invaluable asset for us moving forward.”
Most recently, Bozeman was the head coach at Morgan State for 13 seasons from 2006-19. He is the program’s all-time leader in wins with 195 victories, including a 143-116 record over his first eight seasons. He led the Bears to their only two NCAA Championship appearances and was a three-time MEAC Coach of the Year. His run included three regular-season titles and two tournament titles.
“I have a tremendous amount of respect for Coach Cox and have known him for more than 20 years,” Bozeman said. “He is one of the bright young coaches in college basketball and is an even better person. I appreciate and I am excited for the opportunity to return to my alma mater and represent the Rhody Rams once again.”
Bozeman took over a Morgan State program that had won just four games in 2005-06. Within two years, the Bears made the NIT before qualifying for the NCAA Championship in both 2008 and 2010. In 2009, he was the Hugh Durham National Coach of the Year as the nation’s top mid-major head coach.
Bozeman also spent six seasons as the head coach at Cal, leading the Golden Bears to three NCAA Championship appearances, including a Sweet 16 run in 1993. At the time, he was youngest coach ever to reach the Sweet 16, doing so when he was 29 years old. At Cal, he coached Jason Kidd and he was 63-35 overall and 37-26 in the PAC-10.
In between his two head coaching stints, Bozeman spent four years as a scout in the NBA, working for both the Vancouver Grizzlies and Toronto Raptors.
“Todd is a national recruiter with basketball ties everywhere,” Cox said of the Washington, D.C. native. “He knows how to identify and develop talent. He understands Xs and Os, he knows how to relate to players and he has a history specifically at the University of Rhode Island. Todd Bozeman makes our program stronger in all areas.”
Bozeman joins an assistant coaching staff that also includes Austin Carroll and T.J. Buchanan, both of whom will enter their third season as assistant coaches for Cox in 2021-22.
Cox Adds Veteran Todd Bozeman to URI Coaching Staff
