Head coach JR Blount has added David Gale to the San Diego men’s basketball staff as an assistant coach, as announced on Wednesday, April 1.
Blount and Gale reunite with a shared history that predates their coaching careers, having been teammates at Loyola Chicago. Gale played from 2003-07, while Blount competed from 2005-09. The two spent two seasons together with the Ramblers before going on to build distinguished résumés as coaches.
“We’re excited to welcome David Gale to our men’s basketball staff at USD,” said Blount. “A relationship that began over 20 years ago during our playing days at Loyola has allowed me to see firsthand his character, growth, and commitment to mentoring young men. David brings a wealth of experience across the college, international, and NBA levels, including success as an international head coach. With an elite basketball mind and a genuine ability to connect with players, he is poised to make an immediate impact on our program.”
Gale joins the Toreros after spending the 2025-26 season as an assistant coach with the Windy City Bulls, the NBA G League affiliate of the Chicago Bulls. He brings more than 20 years of experience across the NBA, European professional leagues, and the college game.
“I truly couldn’t be more grateful and excited for the opportunity to join USD and be part of what JR is building,” said Gale. “Having been teammates at Loyola Chicago, I know the type of competitor and leader he is, both on and off the court. There are two things I know for certain about JR: we will get better every day, and we will instill in our players that the way you do anything is the way you do everything,” Gale added. “He is a model of consistency, passion, and leadership.”
Most recently, Gale served as head coach for USK Praha in the Czech Republic’s top league during the 2024-25 season before joining Windy City. Prior to that, he spent two seasons at Vanderbilt as director of scouting and recruiting from 2022-24. He also served as associate to the head coach and director of basketball strategy at Georgia during the 2021-22 season.
“I’m thankful for the opportunity to return home to Southern California and help build a program that will compete at a high level in the WCC,” Gale said. “It’s a great day to be a Torero.”
Gale spent three seasons coaching in top European professional leagues from 2018-21. He was the head coach of BC Nevezis Opibet in Lithuania during the 2020-21 season and previously served as an assistant coach at MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg in Germany’s Basketball Bundesliga (BBL), helping the team reach the league finals in 2019-20.
Concurrently, he served as head coach of Porsche BBA, leading the club to the German U-19 National Championship in 2020. He was named NBBL Coach of the Year and Eurobasket Coach of the Year.
Before his time overseas, Gale accumulated 11 years of NBA and G League experience across three organizations. He began as an assistant video coordinator with the Los Angeles Clippers (2007-11) before joining the Toronto Raptors (2011-17), where he rose from video coordinator and player development coach to assistant coach and offensive coordinator for Raptors 905.
During his time with Raptors 905, the team compiled a 39-11 record and won the 2017 NBA G League championship under head coach Jerry Stackhouse. The Raptors also reached the NBA Playoffs in 2014 and 2015 during his tenure. Gale later served as an assistant coach and defensive coordinator for the Delaware 87ers (2017-18).
A native of Sherman Oaks, California, Gale finished his prep career at Brewster Academy before playing collegiately at Loyola Chicago, where he was a four-year letterwinner. He also represented the United States at the 2006 Maccabi International Games in Australia. Gale earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in sports management from Loyola Chicago in 2007.
