Dwayne Stephens Named Men's Basketball Assistant Coach
5/7/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
May 7, 2003
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State men's basketball coach Tom Izzo has announced that former Spartan Dwayne Stephens, a member of the Marquette coaching staff the past four years, will join the Spartan program as an assistant coach. Stephens' hiring rounds out the Spartan coaching staff as he and recently hired Doug Wojcik fill the vacancies left by the departures of Brian Gregory and Mike Garland, who were hired as head coaches at Dayton and Cleveland State, respectively.
"I'm thrilled to have Dwayne Stephens back at Michigan State," said Izzo. "After having recruited him and coached him as a player, I'm looking forward to having him rejoin the Spartan basketball program as an assistant coach. His addition to the staff helps me fulfill my objective of bringing former players back as assistants, which provides a unique perspective. He has developed tremendously in the last few years under Tom Crean, and his expertise both on and off the court will be a welcome addition to the staff.
"Losing Mike Garland and Brian Gregory was difficult, but with Mark Montgomery, Dwayne Stephens and Doug Wojcik, I think we have one of the most talented staffs in the nation."
"Having played at Michigan State, it is the dream of every coach to return to the school where he played," said Stephens. "I'm very excited that Coach Izzo has given me the opportunity to realize that dream. Over the past four years, I've been fortunate to work for one of the great young coaches in America in Tom Crean. I'm privileged to have the opportunity to be joining a Spartan program led by a man recognized as one of the best coaches in college basketball. This Michigan State team is going to be very good with the opportunity to accomplish some great things. I can't wait to get back to my old stomping grounds and get things started.
"I'd also like to thank Coach Crean for all the help he's given me. He gave me the opportunity to coach at a high level when I didn't have as much experience as some other coaches. He has shown great confidence in me and has pushed me to get better everyday. I can't thank him enough for all he's done for me and for his blessing as I return to Michigan State."
A Ferndale, Mich., native, Stephens was a four-year letterwinner at Michigan State University from 1989-93. In his four seasons, the Spartans posted an 84-38 overall record and made four postseason appearances, as Stephens never missed a game in his career. As a freshman in 1989-90, Stephens was a third-team selection on Basketball Weekly's Freshman All-America Team, averaging 4.3 points and 3.0 rebounds. He scored the game-winning basket in a 72-70 victory over Purdue that clinched the Big Ten Championship for the Spartans. In the 1990 NCAA Tournament, he averaged 10.0 points in three contests. In 1990-91, Stephens was the recipient of MSU's Best Defensive Player Award, while averaging 5.3 points and 4.2 rebounds on a Spartan squad that advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
As a junior, Stephens was voted Most Valuable Player by his teammates as he averaged 11.2 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game. For his efforts, he was also named honorable mention All-Big Ten by both the league's media and coaches, while being named the recipient of MSU's Most Improved Player Award. In two NCAA Tournament games, Stephens averaged 16.0 points. In 1992-93, Stephens served as a senior co-captain for the Spartans, averaging 9.1 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.5 assists. He was named MSU's Best Defensive Player and earned a spot on the Basketball Weekly Honorable Mention All-Midwest Team.
Stephens joined the Marquette coaching staff for the 1999-2000 season, when former Michigan State assistant Tom Crean took over the Golden Eagle program. In his initial season, Stephens helped guide Marquette to a 15-14 record and a berth in the NIT. One year later, the Golden Eagles posted an identical 15-14 overall record, but improved from 8-8 to 9-7 in Conference USA. In addition, Brian Wardle became Marquette's first-ever first-team All-Conference USA honoree in 2001.
In 2001-02, Stephens helped lead the Golden Eagle program to a 26-7 record and an appearance in the 2002 NCAA Tournament as a No. 5 seed. Dwyane Wade earned Conference USA First Team and NABC and USBWA All-District honors, while being named honorable mention All-America by The Associated Press and Newcomer of the Year by Basketball Times. Last season, Stephens was on a Marquette coaching staff that helped guide the Golden Eagles to the NCAA Final Four along with a Conference USA regular-season title and a 27-6 record. Wade earned First Team All-America honors from The Associated Press, averaging 21.5 points and 6.3 rebounds.
Prior to his coaching stint at Marquette, Stephens spent the 1997-98 and 1998-99 seasons as an assistant coach at Oakland University, where the Golden Grizzlies compiled a 27-27 two-year record. During the '98-99 campaign, Oakland's first season as a Division I member, the Golden Grizzlies posted a 12-15 mark.
Following the conclusion of his collegiate career, Stephens played three professional seasons in Europe.
Born July 19, 1971, Stephens earned a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Michigan State in 1993.
