Northwest Christian University head men’s basketball coach Luke Jackson has announced the hiring of Fred Litzenberger as an assistant coach for the 2013-2014 season. A highly respected member of the Oregon basketball community, Litzenberger brings to the table over 40 years of coaching experience including the last 19 in the collegiate ranks.
Litzenberger’s collegiate coaching background includes head coaching stints at Western State College and Northwestern State University as well as five seasons with NAIA Division I power Vanguard University where he led the Lions to an NAIA national tournament appearance.
Coach Jackson said, “I am very excited that coach Litz will be joining my staff. I hold
him as a person and a coach in the highest regard. He has one of the best basketball minds I have ever been around.”
As an assistant coach, he has numerous stints at the NCAA Division I level including The University of Miami, Colorado State and Fresno State. From 1995-2005, Litzenberger was an assistant coach at the University of Oregon, working with both the men’s and women’s programs. He had a hand in leading four Pac-10 champions and nine NCAA tournament appearances. In total, Litzenberger can count over 18 NCAA Tournament appearances as a coach.
Jackson played for Litzenberger at the U of O, which brings a strong level of familiarity to the position. Litzenberger said, “I am looking forward to being a part of developing a top quality basketball program at Northwest Christian University. I am excited to coach alongside Luke. I believe he will work to do the right things for the right reasons and I have tremendous respect for him and the program.”
Currently, Litzenberger also serves as the Director of Basketball for the United States Basketball Academy in Blue River, Oregon. In that role he runs multiple camps for high school and college players and teams. Additionally, he leads coaching clinics and mentors and teaches professional coaches in China and Europe, focusing on his defensive schemes.
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