Spenser Bland, who has invaluable coaching experience in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference and at the prep level, has been named assistant coach by University of Sioux Falls Men’s Basketball Head Coach Chris Johnson.
“We are extremely excited to add a great young coach and person in Spenser Bland,” said Johnson, a 13-year head coach whose USF program has won 224 games with 97 league wins during his tenure. “He has proven recruiting connections within our recruiting footprint, worked at a successful program in our league, and is the type of coach we want in our program. Spenser is hard working, knowledgeable and fits the culture here at USF. I really look forward to working with him, and I know that our players are excited as well. He has been successful at every stop and we believe he will continue to grow as a coach here,” added Johnson.
Bland replaces Jack Nelson who took a position as head men’s basketball coach for the University of Mary.
Prior to joining the USF staff, Bland spent the previous three seasons as an assistant with Minnesota State – Moorhead, which has been one of the top programs in the league. During his time as an assistant at MSUM, Bland has helped the Dragons achieve an overall record of 49-29, finishing with a winning record in each season. In the 2020-21 season the Dragons qualified for the NCAA DII Regional Tournament where they advanced to the round of 32. In Bland’s three years at MSUM he watched six players claim All-NSIC honors, including the 2020-21 NSIC newcomer of the year, Lorenzo McGhee.
Bland played a large role in the construction of the Dragons offense during his time at MSUM. In the 2020-21 season he helped guide the Dragons to finish first in the NSIC in total scoring offense. During the 2019-20 campaign the MSUM offense finished second in the league in overall field-goal percentage.
In Bland’s first year with the Dragons, they led the NSIC in both total scoring offense and offensive field goal percentage during the 2018-19 season. The Dragons ended the 2018-19 year with a record of 19-12, a 12-game improvement from the year prior to Bland’s arrival.
Before arriving at MSU-Moorhead, Bland was a part of Adidas-sponsored AAU program D1 Minnesota where he served in various coaching roles for the program. In the 2018 AAU season, his team was the top-ranked 16U team for a stretch of the summer. Bland’s team went on to win the coveted Adidas Gauntlet Finale in New York City in July of 2018. In Bland’s three years with the program, he worked with over 20 high school athletes that earned a scholarship to play at the Division-One level.
Prior to his time in Moorhead, Bland worked for Prep Hoops where he acted as the Director of Grassroots Outreach. While at Prep Hoops, he had primary responsibilities of connecting with AAU programs and coaches around the country in efforts to promote and highlight the athletes.
Bland also has experience coaching at the Class 4A and 3A level in Minnesota. He served on staff at Totino-Grace from 2017-18 and previously was on staff as an assistant coach at Blaine High School during the 2016-17 season. Prior to Blaine, Bland helped coach at his former high school, Heritage Christian Academy in the 2015-16 season.
Bland attended Bethel University where he was set to be a part of the men’s basketball team but prior to the season required reconstructive ankle surgery which cut his playing career short.
A native of Plymouth, Minn., Bland earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Media Communication from Bethel University in 2018. Now residing in Sioux Falls, S.D., Bland also earned his Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from Minnesota State University Moorhead in 2019.
Bland named Assistant MBB Coach at University of Sioux Falls
