Luke Loucks, a former Florida State star and Sacramento Kings assistant, is embracing his new role as head coach of the Seminoles. On “The Field of 68: After Dark” podcast, Loucks addressed the general concerns about NBA assistants transitioning to college hoops, sharing his journey from a minimum-wage intern to a rising star in coaching.
Luke Loucks Shared Why He Is Ready For His Coach Job
Loucks, who played under Leonard Hamilton at Florida State from 2008-12, appeared in four NCAA Tournaments, including a Sweet 16 in 2011, and earned a bachelor’s degree in business management and a master’s in sport management.
After a brief professional playing career overseas, he entered coaching as a paid intern with the Golden State Warriors, cutting film and performing entry-level tasks. “I started at the absolute bottom,” Loucks said on the podcast.
During his time as an intern, “Every day was an interview” for him. His hustle led to roles with the Warriors (2016-21), Phoenix Suns (2021-22), and Kings (2022-25), where he worked closely with All-NBA guard De’Aaron Fox under Mike Brown.
This grind made Loucks what he is today, and made him different from other players to who transitioned into the coaching role.
“I can’t compare myself to those guys,” he noted, referencing names like Chris Mullin, whose St. John’s tenure ended without an NCAA Tournament berth.
Loucks’ path is very similar to that of Kevin Young, who thrived at BYU in 2024-25 with a 23-11 record, leveraging NBA experience and local ties.
“The Field of 68” hosts highlighted a growing trend of NBA assistants like Loucks and Utah’s Alex Jensen taking college jobs. However, they questioned the fit at Florida State, where football often overshadows basketball funding.
Loucks acknowledged the Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) challenge, where roster-building hinges on donor support. Florida State’s collective, Rising Spear, has lagged behind powerhouses like BYU, which landed five-star recruit AJ Dybantsa in 2025.
Despite this, Loucks is undeterred. He’s assembled a staff, including assistants Michael Fly, Gerald Gillion, and Jim Moran, plus Chris Kent as director of player development. “Coaching is an afterthought if you don’t have talent,” a host noted, emphasizing that Loucks’ success depends on securing players in the transfer portal and high school ranks.
Florida State, coming off a 17-16 season in 2024-25, faces a tough ACC slate with Duke and North Carolina as their opponents. Loucks’ lack of head-coaching experience is a risk, but his NBA pedigree and hunger could be enough to turn the tables.
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Loucks’ journey from intern to the Seminoles’ sideline proves he’s built for the fight. If he can navigate NIL hurdles and land talent, Loucks might buck the trend of NBA-to-college flops, rekindling Florida State’s NCAA Tournament hopes by 2026.
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