Oklahoma State head coach Steve Lutz has tabbed 28-year collegiate coaching veteran Lou Gudino as his newest assistant coach.
Gudino has served the past three years as the associate head coach at Ball State after holding similar titles at Wichita State, New Mexico State and Indiana State.
“I’ve known Lou for many years. He is one of the most prepared coaches in our profession and has helped elevate every program that he’s been a part of. His eye for talent, knack for player development and deep basketball knowledge will make an immediate impact here. I’m thrilled to welcome him and his wife Dana to Stillwater and the Cowboy Basketball family.”
At Ball State (2022-25) under head coach Michael Lewis, Gudino worked closely with the Cardinal big men, including three-time all-conference center Payton Sparks, who finished his career ranked among the program’s all-time leaders in blocks, rebounds, free throws and field goal percentage.
Gudino worked similar magic at Wichita State (2018-22) where he was a part of four straight winning seasons, highlighted by the program’s first ever American Athletic Conference regular season title, and coached five players who would go on to the NBA, including 2021 AAC Co-Player of the Year Tyson Etienne and current Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Craig Porter Jr.
Prior to WSU, Gudino spent a season at New Mexico State (2017-18) as top assistant to Chris Jans. The two made an immediate splash in Las Cruces, guiding the Aggies to a 28-6 record, the 2018 Western Athletic Conference regular season and tournament titles, and a No. 12 seed in the NCAA tournament. Gudino also coached Jemerrio Jones, the nation’s second-leading rebounder (13.2), to WAC Player of the Year and honorable mention AP All-American honors.
The longest tenured assistant in Indiana State history, Gudino spent a decade in Terre Haute (2007-17) and helped guide the Sycamores to five consecutive postseason trips, highlighted by a 2011 NCAA tournament appearance and back-to-back NIT bids in 2013 and 2014.
Before getting his first Division I assistant job at Louisiana Tech (2005-07), Gudino served as a junior college head coach at Frank Phillips College in Borger, Texas (2003-05), earning conference coach of the year honors in his final go-around after guiding the Plainsmen to a 26-4 record, a No. 16 national ranking and the program’s first WJCAC title.
A Clinton, Ind., native and 1997 Indiana graduate, Gudino started his collegiate coaching career at Howard (Texas) Junior College before moving on to Barton (Kan.) Community College (1999-00) and later Incarnate Word (2000-03) where he completed a Master’s in Sports Management.
https://okstate.com/news/2025/5/28/gudino-joins-cowboy-basketball-coaching-staff
