We had this as a rumor on 3/24 (http://hoopdirt.com/blog/b2ec422a/uc-riverside-rumor/…). I guess the ink is now dry…

UC Riverside Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Jim Wooldridge today announced the hiring of Dennis Cutts as the Highlanders head men’s basketball coach. Cutts served as the team’s interim head coach in 2013-14 after Wooldridge stepped down to become UC Riverside’s interim athletics director in July of last year.

"Dennis has certainly earned this opportunity based not only on the improvement that we saw in the men’s basketball team this past season, but through his dedication to UC Riverside over his seven years as a member of the Highlanders family," said Wooldridge. "The future for our men’s basketball program looks bright, and I’m pleased that Dennis is remaining a part of what we are trying to build here at UC Riverside."

"I’d first like to thank Chancellor Wilcox and Jim Wooldridge for the faith they’ve shown in allowing me, as well as my staff, to lead our men’s basketball program," said Cutts. "My wife, Evon, and I have made the Inland Empire our home, and we look forward to continuing to be a part of this community as we build a program that all of Riverside can take pride in."

This past season, the Highlanders nearly doubled their win total from the previous year, earning the eight seed in the Big West Conference Tournament where they fell to UC Irvine. UC Riverside averaged 70.9 points per game this season in conference play—the highest average since the Highlanders joined the Big West, and 11.1 points more per game than the team averaged a year ago. UC Riverside also saw its home attendance increase by 20 percent this season.

Prior to taking over as the Highlanders’ interim head coach, Cutts served for six years under Wooldridge as UC Riverside’s lead assistant.

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