Golden Bear great Theo Robertson, who led California to the 2010 Pac-10 title before joining the NBA staffs of the Golden State Warriors and the Los Angeles Lakers, will rejoin Cal men’s basketball as an assistant coach, head coach Wyking Jones announced Wednesday.
“I’m really excited to have Theo back on campus as a part of our program,” Jones said. “He’s worked with the best at the highest ranks of the game and will bring an invaluable level of experience to our program. Theo is extremely sharp, personable, and a hard worker. His future in coaching is incredibly bright, but his connection with our players is what I’m most excited about. He sat in our locker room and was once in the same shoes as a standout student-athlete, and he knows what it takes to win a Pac-12 Championship.”
A native of Pittsburg, Calif., Robertson returns to Berkeley after serving three seasons in the NBA, most recently as an assistant coach with the Lakers under Luke Walton. Before his stint with the Lakers, Robertson spent the previous two seasons with the Golden State Warriors, where he was part of the 2015 NBA Championship-winning program as the team’s video intern, working with Steve Kerr’s coaching staff assisting with game preparation. He was promoted to video coordinator/player development prior to the 2015-16 season, working on-court with players in addition to his game-planning responsibilities.
A two-year captain and standout forward in college, Robertson played for the Bears from 2006-10. He was a key part of Cal’s 2010 Pac-10 championship team, earning team MVP honors after averaging 14.2 points per game. He finished his career as the school’s all-time three-point shooter, making 44.0 percent of his attempts beyond the arc, and ranks among Cal’s top 25 career scorers with 1,315 total points.
“To be coming back to my alma mater as part of the coaching staff is something that is very special to me,” Robertson said. “Cal played a large role in my growth both on and off the floor and I am thankful for the opportunity to return as a coach. I am looking forward to working with Coach Jones, serving our student-athletes and helping to shape the next generation of Golden Bears. He and I share the same vision and values and I am very excited to get to work.”
Following graduation, Robertson worked as an administrative fellow at the Pac-12 offices, where he assisted with the league’s Sports Management and Championships team. He returned to Cal for two seasons under head coach Mike Montgomery, serving as a graduate manager before expanding his role as director of operations in the 2013-14 season. Under Montgomery, Robertson handled all aspects of administration, including coordinating team travel, developing recruiting databases and supporting the program from the competition and academic standpoints.
Robertson graduated from Cal in 2010 with a degree in social welfare.
