Portland State Basketball Coach Jase Coburn has rounded out his staff with the hire of Chris Foss as an assistant coach. Foss, a graduate of Southridge High School and one-time assistant coach at four local high schools, is returning home.
Foss comes to PSU after a successful tenure as assistant coach at Northwest Nazarene University, a Division II program in Nampa, Idaho. He was part of the program the past two seasons in which they went a combined 28-16. One of those wins was an upset of the Viking program last season at Viking Pavilion, 75-72.
“To be able to bring home one of Portland’s own is a very exciting opportunity,” said Coburn. “Chris has a tremendous amount of passion for Portland State. He has worked with and trained several former Portland State players over the years. He has definitely earned the opportunity and taken the steps to become a Division I coach.”
A 2011 University of Oregon graduate, Foss spent eight years coaching Oregon high school basketball at Central Catholic, Grant, Southridge, and West Linn.
Foss coached former Vikings’ Bryce Canda in high school and Deante Strickland in AAU ball. He also coached current Viking Khalid Thomas on the I-5 Elite AAU team.
“I am really excited about the opportunity Coach Coburn gave me to be on his staff at Portland State,” Foss said. “I think a lot of him and the relationship we have had over the last seven or eight years he has been at Portland State. I was really drawn to the energy that his staff has. Our personalities have blended well and it was nice to have a fit back home – that was important.
“The opportunity to connect the city of Portland with Portland State University is exciting. Hopefully, with my relationships and roots throughout the state I can help bring success to the Vikings. I think we have the pieces to do it.”
Foss was the co-director for the Primetime Top 40 showcase, an invite only event for the top players in Oregon and Washington. He also worked with USA Basketball as well as the World Team in the Nike Hoop Summit.
Foss also worked for Central Wyoming College in Riverton, Wyoming during the 2014-15 season and was a part of the staff that featured the Region IX head coach of the year.
THE CHRIS FOSS FILE
1st year at Portland State
Hometown: Portland, OR
Alma Mater: Oregon, 2011, Journalism
COACHING EXPERIENCE
2019-21 Northwest Nazarene, Assistant Coach
2017-19 West Linn (OR) High School, Assistant Coach
2015-17 Central Catholic (OR) High School, Assistant Coach
2014-15 Central Wyoming JC, Assistant Coach
2012-14 Grant (OR) High School, Assistant Coach
2010-12 Southridge (OR) High School, Assistant Coach
