Following-up on yesterday’s report…David Patrick has officially resigned as the head basketball coach at Sacramento State, and will become the associate head coach at LSU. Here’s the statement from Sac St:

Sacramento State head men’s basketball coach David Patrick has resigned to take the associate head coaching position at LSU.

Current Hornet associate head coach Michael Czepil, entering his third season with the program, will serve as the interim head coach for the 2024-25 season.

Patrick and his wife, Cassie, have roots in Louisiana, and he played at Louisiana (then named Southwestern Louisiana) from 1997-00. Patrick also coached at LSU as the assistant head coach from 2012-16.

“I would like to thank President Nelsen and President Wood for the opportunity to lead the basketball team at this amazing University,” Patrick said. “I am so grateful I was able to work for my good friend, Athletics Director Mark Orr, and alongside the amazing people in the athletics department at Sacramento State. Every individual on campus and in the city of Sacramento have been so welcoming.

“My wife and her family are from Louisiana, and the opportunity to go home and be the associate head coach at LSU was something I could not turn down. I am indebted to my players, my staff, and all of the their families for allowing me to lead them on their education and basketball journey. The city and the University will forever be in our hearts.”

Patrick took over the program prior to the 2022-23 season and immediately guided the Hornets to 14 victories. That was easily the most wins by a first-year head coach in Sacramento State’s Div. I era (1991-pres.), and third best mark in program history (1948-pres.). That season, the team earned a first round bye at the Big Sky Conference Tournament for the first time since joining the league in 1996.

This past season (2023-24), the Hornets’ semifinal appearance at the Big Sky Tournament marked the first time the team had won two games at the league’s postseason event. Sacramento State fell in the semifinals in a tightly contested 74-71 loss to eventual tournament champion Montana State. In addition, the Hornets were one of just four Div. I teams in the country to play their freshmen over 40% of the team’s total minutes. Sacramento State finished among the top 25 teams in the nation in rebounding during both his seasons.

“Sacramento State is extremely thankful to Coach Patrick for his service and leadership, and he has built a foundation that is set up for future success in achieving our goal to compete for conference championships,” Orr said. “While it is difficult to see him leave, we wish him and his wonderful family the very best in their future endeavors.

“Coach Czepil is an outstanding coach, and I look forward to him embracing the opportunity to serve as our interim head coach. I have full confidence that he is the right person to lead our student-athletes through the 2024-25 season.”

Czepil (pronounced Zeh-pull) has been on Patrick’s staff at Sacramento State both seasons as the associate head coach, and, like Patrick, is a native of Melbourne, Australia. He was hired by Patrick in June of 2022, and has a big influence on all areas of the program, including recruiting, on-floor coaching, player development and scouting.

He has 14 years of collegiate, international and professional coaching experience. Czepil arrived at Sacramento State after spending four seasons at UC Riverside (2018-22), including the final two as the team’s associate head coach.

Prior to his stint with the Highlanders, Czepil was an assistant coach for the U18 Australian National Team during the Albert Schweitzer Tour in 2018. For two years (2016-18), Czepil led the Victoria Metropolitan high-performance basketball program in Melbourne. His first head coaching experience came in 2015-17 when he led the Werribee Basketball Association’s senior men’s program in the Big V, Australia’s third-tier professional basketball league.

“I could not have witnessed a better example of what it means to be a program leader than working with DP,” Czepil said. “I can’t thank him enough for his mateship and investment in me over the years, and I am thrilled to continue the work that we’ve started at Sacramento State.

“I am grateful President Wood and Mark Orr thought enough of our staff to support us as we move forward in preparation for the upcoming season.”

Czepil played four years at Nicholls State (2005-09), and received his first coaching experience at his alma mater where he was assistant coach for three seasons (2010-13). He first crossed paths with Patrick during the 2005-06 season when Czepil was a player and Patrick an assistant coach at Nicholls State. The two would later coach together at UC Riverside from 2018-20.   

As a player, Czepil was a two-time team captain and graduated from Nicholls State in 2010.