BYU head men’s basketball coach Dave Rose announced today the hiring of Lee Cummard as an assistant coach. Cummard fills the vacancy left by Heath Schroyer, who was hired as the head coach at McNeese State in March.
“Lee is a winner,” Rose said. “He’s been a winner everywhere he’s been, as a player and a coach. The leadership and drive he had as a player will help him be successful as he continues on in his coaching career. He has a great feel for the game and has the respect of all of our players. I’m excited to add a Cougar to our staff.”
Cummard has been a member of the coaching staff the last two seasons as a graduate assistant. During that time, he helped the Cougars to back-to-back 20-win seasons and a pair of at-large bids to the NIT.
“I love this university and BYU basketball,” Cummard said. “I’m grateful to coach Rose for the opportunity. I’m very excited to continue working with the coaching staff and the players. I can’t wait to get in the gym to get ready for next season.”
Prior to joining the staff in 2016, Cummard played professionally overseas from 2009-16, including stops in France, Japan and Belgium. From 2012-16, Cummard was a starter for Okapi Aalstar in Belgium. In his four seasons with the club, Okapi Aalstar finished second in the regular season standings twice, advanced to the semifinals of the league playoffs four times and finished runner-up in the Belgian Cup in 2013.
Collegiately, Cummard played guard for Rose at BYU from 2005-09 and helped BYU win three Mountain West Conference regular season titles and receive three bids to the NCAA tournament. Among Cummard’s most notable accomplishments as a Cougar was playing in 97 victories, which was first all-time in team history when he finished his college career.
As a freshman in 2005-06, Cummard played a key role in helping Rose turn BYU from a nine-win team the year before to a 20-win squad that received a bid to the NIT. The next season, Cummard started all 34 games and earned third-team All-MWC honors while averaging 9.4 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.5 steals. He helped lead the 2006-07 squad to a 25-9 record and the first of three-straight MWC titles.
As a junior in 2007-08, Cummard elevated his game to another level as he was named the MWC Co-Player of the Year and earned Associated Press All-America Honorable Mention while leading the Cougars to 27 wins and the MWC title. He proved to be one of the most versatile and efficient players in the nation as he averaged 15.8 points, 6.3 rebounds and 3.5 assists while shooting 56.9 percent from the floor, 47.2 percent from 3-point range and 85.7 percent from the free-throw line.
Cummard’s senior season was equally as impressive as he earned All-MWC First Team honors and was named a fourth-team All-American by FOXSports.com. He led the team to 25 wins while averaging 16.8 points, 6.2 rebounds and 3.4 assists.
His name is found throughout the BYU record book as Cummard is top-20 all-time in program history in scoring, field goals made, field goal percentage, 3-point field goals made, 3-point field goal percentage, free-throw percentage, rebounds, assists, blocks and steals.
Cummard never missed a game as a player, appearing in all 131 games BYU played during his four seasons in Provo. He earned a starting spot midway through his freshman season and was in the starting five in 116 straight games.
A native of Mesa, Arizona, Cummard and his wife Sarah have three sons.
https://byucougars.com/story/m-basketball/1284687/Rose-hires-Cummard-as-an-assistant-coach
