Stanford assistant coach Mark Madsen will be introduced as head coach of the Los Angeles D-Fenders today, as announced by team President/CEO Joey Buss and General Manager Glenn Carraro.
Madsen, who will become the fifth head coach of the NBA Development League franchise, served as an assistant coach with the Cardinal for the 2012-13 campaign. A nine-year NBA veteran, Madsen was a member of the Los Angeles Lakers for three seasons, helping the franchise capture two consecutive championships in 2001 and 2002 on the back end of a three-peat. Madsen also brings a year of NBA Development League coaching experience to the D-Fenders, working as an assistant with the Utah Flash in 2009-10, where he helped lead the team to a 28-22 record and a playoff berth.
"I am very grateful for the opportunity that Coach Dawkins gave me to join the Stanford program and learn under his direction and mentorship," said Madsen. "I appreciate the support, encouragement and feedback of Coach Dawkins in particular over the past several weeks during this decision-making process. I whole-heartedly express my personal gratitude not only to Coach Dawkins, but to every player, staff member and coach I had the chance to work with this year. I also look forward to following the team’s success next year and wish them the best of luck."
"I am truly excited to see Mark earn an opportunity to be a head coach at the professional level," said Johnny Dawkins, Stanford’s Anne and Tony Joseph Director of Men’s Basketball. "Mark proved to be a terrific role model for our student-athletes on and off the court while several of our post players improved tremendously under his guidance. Mark’s professionalism and enthusiasm were invaluable assets to our program over the past year."
One of the most iconic and inspirational players in school history, Madsen has enjoyed success at every level of basketball. During his four-year career on The Farm, Madsen earned All-America honors in each of his final two seasons while helping lead the Cardinal to four NCAA Tournament appearances, including the 1998 Final Four.
Known to everyone as "Mad Dog" for his signature physical and aggressive style of play, Madsen averaged 10.9 points and 7.9 rebounds for his Cardinal career while ranking among the school’s top-10 all-time performers in field goal percentage (fourth – 58.7), and rebounds (sixth – 857). A two-time All-Pac-10 selection, Madsen was tabbed a two-time All-American by the NABC (1999 Third Team, 2000 Second Team) and a Third Team All-American by the Associated Press in 2000. He was also named a member of the John R. Wooden Award team as a senior.
"We are very pleased to announce Mark as the newest head coach of the D-Fenders," said Buss. "Mark understands the emphasis we place on developing intelligent and skilled players who can contribute important minutes with the Lakers and in the NBA. We are confident that Mark’s experience in the NBA will help us reach our goals, further establishing the D-Fenders as a franchise known for producing top NBA talent while competing at a championship level."
"Mark has exhibited all the qualities necessary to excel as a head coach, and we are certain he will help the D-Fenders reach new heights on the basketball court," said Carraro. "He has proven to be the ultimate team player, winning multiple titles with the Lakers early in his career after great success as a leader in college. We are thrilled to have him on the sidelines for the D-Fenders and believe his basketball mind will help our players develop into meaningful contributors for the Lakers and the NBA."
During Madsen’s playing career, Stanford compiled a 105-24 record, producing an 81.4 winning percentage that ranks second in school history for a consecutive four-year period. The Cardinal also notched its first 30-win season (1997-98), claimed two Pac-10 titles (1999, 2000), earned a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament for the first time (2000) and advanced to the NCAA Final Four (1998).
An equally accomplished member of the academic community, Madsen attained his MBA from Stanford in Public Management in June 2012 after earning his bachelor’s degree in economics in 2000. As an undergraduate, Madsen excelled as a student-athlete and was honored as a CoSIDA First Team All-American as a senior. Moreover, a two-time Pac-10 All-Academic First Team selection as well as an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship recipient, Madsen was appointed to the executive council of the NABC Student Basketball Council, which is organized to address issues affecting NCAA student-athletes.
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