Former Hawaii assistant coach Chris Gerlufsen has been named the new associate head coach for the University of San Francisco men’s basketball team, as announced by third year head coach Todd Golden on Tuesday.
Gerlufsen served as the top assistant to head coach Eran Ganot at Hawaii for the last two seasons and brings more than two decades of coaching experience to the Dons. While at UH, he oversaw the guards and served as the Rainbow Warriors’ offensive coordinator. He also served as the interim head coach for Hawaii’s first 13 games in the 2019-20 season, leading UH to an 8-5 non-conference record, including an 85-75 upset win over previously undefeated USF.
“I am elated to welcome Chris Gerlufsen to our staff,” said Golden. “He is an outstanding offensive coach, builds great relationships with the student-athletes, and most importantly is a high-character individual. He is a great competitor, and I trust that his presence on our staff will make all of us better coaches. I can’t wait to have him on the floor with us as we start workouts next week!”
Under his watch, three UH guards earned All-Big West Honorable Mention honors, including Drew Buggs in 2019-20 and Justin Webster and Junior Madut last season. Buggs flourished under Gerlufsen’s watch, finishing with career-bests in points per game, minutes played, and assists per game in his junior season. In the 2019 win over the Dons, he scored a career-best 25 points while going 11-for-19 from the field.
This past season, Madut and Webster were two of UH’s top-four scorers. Webster led the team in points per game (12.7) and 3-point field goals (34) while shooting 51 percent from the field in Big West Play.
Gerlufsen spent four seasons as an assistant at San Diego from 2015-19, giving him familiarity with the West Coast Conference’s challenges. During his time with the Toreros, USD experienced unprecedented success, posting back-to-back 20-win seasons for the first time in program history while advancing to the postseason both years. He finished his run with the Torreros in 2018-19 when San Diego earned a berth to the NIT.
At USD he oversaw the guards, served as offensive coordinator, and led USD’s global recruiting efforts, signing more than half dozen international players during his tenure. In his last two years at USD, he coached a trio of all-conference selections, including Isaiah Pineiro, Olin Carter III, and Isaiah Wright.
Prior to USD, he spent nine seasons on the bench as an assistant the University of Hartford, the last two seasons of which he served as associate head coach. While at Hartford, his primary responsibilities including working with both the perimeter and post players as well as serving as the staff’s recruiting coordinator.
Accountable for tapping into the Texas pipeline at Hartford, Gerlufsen attracted several quality basketball players from the Lone Star State. Among the student-athletes on that list are forward Mark Nwakamma, a 2012-13 America East All-Conference First Team pick, and guards Wes Cole, Evan Cooper and Yolonzo Moore II.
During his tenure at Hartford, Gerlufsen helped implement a perimeter-oriented motion offense for the Hawks, which accounted for six consecutive seasons with 225 or more made three pointers, including a school-record 312 in the 2007-08 campaign, which also set an America East Conference record.
Gerlufsen also had stops at The Citadel (2001-’06), Southwestern (1999-’01) and got his start as an assistant coach at Washington College in Maryland in 1998-99.
Gerlufsen was a four-time letter winner for Randolph-Macon College, a Division III school in Virginia. While playing for the Yellow Jackets, he was named team captain for a squad that twice advanced to the NCAA Division III tournament. He graduated in 1998 with a B.A. in Business and Economics. He is a native of Philadelphia, PA.
Chris Gerlufsen Named University of San Francisco Associate Head Coach
