After an extensive national search, Vice Chancellor for Athletics and University Affairs and Athletics Director Malcolm Turner today announced Jerry Stackhouse as Vanderbilt University’s men’s basketball head coach.

“I am extremely excited to join the Vanderbilt family and build on the incredible accomplishments of its athletics program and men’s basketball program,” said Stackhouse, who is currently serving as an assistant coach for the Memphis Grizzlies in the NBA. “I look forward to furthering Vanderbilt’s unique approach to athletics — blending a powerhouse competitive spirit with elite academics to holistically develop talented student-athletes and celebrate victories on and off the court.

“I would like to thank Malcolm Turner and Chancellor Zeppos for giving me this fantastic opportunity to direct the Vanderbilt men’s basketball program into its next great era.”

Turner led the search with Chancellor Nicholas S. Zeppos, supported by executive search firm Korn Ferry.

A first-year assistant coach with the Memphis Grizzlies following two seasons as head coach of the NBA G League’s Raptors 905, Stackhouse takes the reins of a Vanderbilt program that boasts three SEC regular season titles, two conference tournament titles and 15 NCAA Tournament appearances.

“The future is bright for the men’s basketball team with such an accomplished individual at the helm,” said Turner. “Jerry brings a unique mix of experience as a legendary player and successful coach, and I fully expect he’ll take the program to new heights. I’ve spoken with people inside and outside both college and professional basketball, and there is unanimous agreement that Jerry’s competitiveness, grit and tireless focus on player development are a perfect fit to advance the ‘Vanderbilt Way’ in college athletics. This is an incredibly exciting moment for Vanderbilt.”

“Jerry Stackhouse‘s storied career speaks for itself — he embodies Vanderbilt’s commitment to excellence, on and off the court,” said Chancellor Nicholas S. Zeppos. “Jerry is a true competitor who will carry on Vanderbilt’s legacy of comprehensively developing student-athletes to excel in everything they do — on the court, in the classroom, and in their lives. I am thrilled to welcome him to Vanderbilt.”

As head coach of Raptors 905, Stackhouse steered the team to a 39-11 regular season record and 6-1 playoff record in the 2016-17 season, guiding the team to its first NBA G League Championship and winning NBA G League Coach of the Year. Stackhouse led the team to a 31-19 regular season record and a second straight appearance in the NBA G League Finals in 2017-18. Stackhouse was an assistant coach for the Toronto Raptors during the 2015-16 season.

Stackhouse appeared in 970 games (564 starts) for eight teams during his 18-year NBA career and averaged 16.9 points, 3.3 assists, 3.2 rebounds and 31.2 minutes. A two-time All-Star with the Detroit Pistons (2000, 2001), Stackhouse posted career highs of 29.8 points (second in the NBA) during the 2000-01 season, leading the league in total points and free throws made. He reached the 2006 NBA Finals as a member of the Dallas Mavericks.

After playing for legendary head coach Dean Smith and earning Sports Illustrated Player of the Year, All-America first team and All-ACC honors at North Carolina, Stackhouse was selected by the Philadelphia 76ers with the third overall pick in the 1995 NBA Draft. He was named to the 1995-96 NBA All-Rookie first team after leading all first-year players in scoring (19.8 points).

In 2011, Stackhouse launched Stackhouse Elite, an AAU program based in Atlanta, Georgia. The program captured numerous titles in the 15U, 16U, and 17U divisions.

Stackhouse prepped at Kinston (N.C.) High School and Oak Hill (Va.) Academy and was one of the most highly recruited athletes in college basketball history. He became just the third freshman in ACC history to earn most outstanding player honors at the ACC Tournament. Stackhouse and the Tar Heels also reached the 1995 Final Four. Weeks later, he announced he would enter the NBA Draft. Going to the NBA, however, did not mean the end of his educational pursuits.

“When I decided to leave early I made a promise to Coach (Dean) Smith and to my mother that I would continue to try to do just that,” Stackhouse said. “I wasn’t just going to pursue a basketball career, I wasn’t going to end my academic career.”

Stackhouse received his bachelor’s degree from North Carolina in the fall of 1999.

Stackhouse completed the Business of Entertainment, Media and Sports at the Harvard Business School executive education program in 2017.