Lamont Smith, head coach for the University of San Diego men’s basketball program, announced the hiring of two assistant coaches today. Joining him on the Toreros staff will be Russell Springmann and Sam Scholl. Smith expects to add one more assistant by the end of next week. Additionally, Ryan Harbour is staying on in the position of Director of Basketball Operations.
“I’m extremely excited to announce two additions to our staff and Torero basketball family,” said Lamont Smith, USD men’s basketball coach. “Both of these men bring a wealth of experience and tremendous core values to our basketball program.”
Russell Springmann joins the Torero staff after a 17-year stint with the University of Texas, including the past 14 years as a full-time assistant coach under former head coach Rick Barnes. In his 14 seasons as a full-time assistant at UT, Springmann helped the Longhorns post a 334-149 overall record while making 12 NCAA Tournament appearances. Texas made five “Sweet 16” showings during his 14 years, including a trip to the Final Four in 2003 and the “Elite Eight” in both 2006 and 2008. During this stretch with Springmann playing a key role in Longhorn recruiting, a total of 14 McDonald’s All-Americans made their way to UT, including two that would go on to earn National Player of the Year honors in T.J. Ford (2003) and Kevin Durant (2007). In his first three seasons at Texas, Springmann served as an administrative assistant.
“Russell Springmann is one of the most respected coaches in all of college basketball,” stated Lamont Smith. “His 17 years of recruiting and coaching experience with the University of Texas will be immensely valuable to myself and the team. Above all, his character and core values are unmatched.”
Springmann arrived in Texas after spending two seasons (1996-98) working in the basketball office at the University of Florida. Prior to his stint at Florida, Springmann served four seasons as the boys’varsity coach at Mardela (Md.) High School. He began his coaching career in 1990-91 as an assistant coach at Salisbury State University in Salisbury, Md. He spent two seasons there before accepting the position at Mardela High.
Springmann graduated from Salisbury State in 1990 with a bachelor’s degree in physical education. A four-year letterwinner in basketball, he served as team captain during his junior and senior seasons. A native of Silver Spring, Md., Springmann and his wife, Neissa, have one son, Durant, and one daughter, Malaine.
Sam Scholl returns to his alma mater where he played two seasons (1998-2000) and was a teammate of Lamont Smith’s during the 1998-99 campaign. The Toreros lone senior on the team’s 20-9 squad from 1999-2000, USD would post a 38-18 two-year record during Scholl’s playing career.
Scholl would go on to spend seven seasons on the USD coaching staff under former head coach Brad Holland, including helping the 2002-03 team win the 2003 WCC Basketball Championship and reach the 2003 NCAA Division I Tournament for the third time in program history.
“I’m also very excited to bring another fellow Torero back to San Diego,” added Smith. “Sam Scholl and I have known each other for 17 years and his knowledge of USD and the WCC will be incredibly important to our team’s success.”
For the past eight seasons Scholl was on the Santa Clara University staff, and in September of 2013 was promoted to Associate Coach under head coach Kerry Keating. At SCU Scholl helped the Broncos to 26 wins in 2012-13 and 24 victories in 2010-11. The Broncos won the College Basketball Invitational post-season tournament in 2013 and the CollegeInsider. com Tournament in 2011. Scholl and Lamont Smith worked together at Santa Clara for one season during the 2007-08 campaign.
A native of Gig Harbor, Wash., Scholl completed his undergraduate degree in Sociology at USD in 2001. Prior to arriving at USD he played two seasons at Tacoma Community College in Tacoma, Washington, and was the point guard on the 1996 2A Washington State championship team for Gig Harbor High School. Sam and his wife, Heather, have three daughters – Riley, Reese and Regan.
http://www.usdtoreros.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/042215aab.html
