The Florida State Seminoles may have found the next head coach of their basketball program, as they’re believed to be in contract talks with an NBA assistant coach.
Sacramento Kings Assistant Coach Luke Loucks In Contract Talks with FSU for Head Coaching Position
CBS insider Jon Rothstein reported early Friday afternoon that the Seminoles are in contract talks with current Sacramento Kings assistant coach Luke Loucks.
Sources: Florida State has offered its head coaching vacancy to Sacramento Kings assistant Luke Loucks.
The two sides are now negotiating a contract.
Loucks previously played for Leonard Hamilton with the Seminoles.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) March 7, 2025
As Rothstein mentioned, Loucks played at Florida State for head coach Leonard Hamilton. During his time with the Seminoles, Loucks was a part of four consecutive NCAA Tournament teams from 2008-2012. He remains the leader in FSU history in games played.
Across 136 games played, he averaged 4.4 ppg, 2.9 apg, and 2.2 rpg in 19.6 mpg.
After playing overseas and with a stint in the NBA’s D-League with the Main Red Claws, Loucks began his coaching career with the Golden State Warriors in 2016 on an internship basis. In the 2021-22 campaign, he worked in personnel evaluation with the Phoenix Suns before being hired by the Kings prior to the 2022 season.
He has since moved his way up to being Sacramento’s defensive coordinator in the 2024-25 season.
His name comes into consideration for the Seminoles job after legendary head coach Leonard Hamilton announced his decision to step down from his role at the end of this season.
Hamilton, 76, is the winningest coach in Florida State history along with earning eight NCAA Tournament bids and three Sweet Sixteen appearances.
It has not been smooth sailing for the Seminoles this season, having posted a 16-14 overall record but having only gone 7-12 in ACC play to date. That leaves them in a three-way tie for 11th place with one game remaining on the schedule.
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The season looked promising just three weeks ago. Three wins in four games brought their conference record to 7-8, but they lost their last four games in a row. They’ll enter the ACC Tournament this upcoming week, and their only shot is to win the whole thing to make the NCAA Tournament field.
Loucks — if hired — is 34 years old and should bring a rejuvenated energy to a Seminoles program that hasn’t made the field of 68 since the 2020-21 season.
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