After a successful run coaching in the NBA D-League, David Arseneault Jr. ’09 will be back on the Darby Gymnasium sidelines in 2016-17.
Arseneault Jr. has been named interim head men’s basketball coach at Grinnell College for the season, taking over duties from his father, David Arseneault. The elder Arseneault will be on sabbatical leave granted by the college.
Arseneault Jr., who previously played and coached at Grinnell, spent the last two seasons leading the Reno Bighorns, the NBA D-League affiliate of the Sacramento Kings.
Last season, the Bighorns won the Western Conference with a 33-17 mark, claimed the Pacific Division title and set a D-League record for offensive efficiency. Arseneault Jr. was named Coach of the Year by SB Nation.
Over a two-season span, the Bighorns posted a 53-47 record and had six players called up to the NBA. They led the league in numerous categories, including points per game, 3-point field goals, 3-point percentage, assists per game and assist-turnover ratio.
As a player at Grinnell, Arseneault Jr. was a three-time finalist for the Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Award while finishing as the NCAA Division III all-time leader in career assists average with 9.4 per game. As a senior, Arseneault led the nation in assists per game (10.2) and ranks 11th on the Pioneers’ all-time scoring chart with 1,462 points.
“I’m humbled and honored to be selected to lead the men’s basketball program,” said Arseneault Jr. “I loved my time at Grinnell as a student-athlete and I am thrilled to be back home. My dad has taken this program to an incredible level and I look forward to building on his success.”
“I am excited to have David Jr. as our replacement coach for many reasons,” said Andy Hamilton ’85, Grinnell’s Director of Athletics and Recreation. “His understanding of the ‘System’ allows our program to move forward without interruption. With his recent background in the D-League of the NBA, David should be able to enhance our schemes and bring even more variety to our style of play. Probably the most salient added benefit is that David participated in the recruitment of our juniors and seniors, so there are already solid relationships with the members of the team. I wish him well this year.”
While on sabbatical leave, the elder Arseneault will write a book on the evolution of the high-octane Grinnell “System” over the past 25 years. He will continue his duties as head women’s golf coach for the three-time defending Midwest Conference champions.
