Luke Loucks, Florida State’s new head basketball coach, believes his NBA background has uniquely equipped him to handle the shifting college landscape, including Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) rights, the transfer portal, and evolving player movement. He steps into the role following Leonard Hamilton’s retirement announcement at season’s end.
Luke Loucks Credits NBA Experience in Adapting to NIL and Transfer Era
Florida State’s new head coach, Loucks, is stepping into college basketball at a time of unprecedented change, and he’s doing so with confidence shaped by years in the NBA and overseas. As Loucks explained in a conversation with CBS Sports’ Gary Parrish, the landscape is dramatically different from his playing days, but one he’s uniquely equipped to navigate.
“It’s definitely different from when I played,” Loucks said. “There’s a financial piece to it that, quite honestly, I’m comfortable with from where I’m coming from—coming from the NBA and post-college, I played a handful of years in Europe. So I do understand the financial piece.”
Loucks’ familiarity with managing player personalities and financial stakes at the professional level gives him an edge in today’s college game, now governed by NIL rights and an active transfer portal.
“At times it can feel a little chaotic at this level, but honestly it’s not much different—outside of the regulations,” he said. “In terms of dealing with the agent, and in terms of dealing with egos, and in terms of dealing with players that quite honestly make a lot more money than most people in the building—that’s what I’m used to.”
For Loucks, the key lies in building authentic relationships and maintaining standards.
“You still got to set a standard,” he said. “The players got to understand that there will be accountability no matter how much money you make, because there’s a way to do things and a way not to do things.”
That, he believes, is foundational to fostering a winning culture and a healthy locker room.
He also places strong emphasis on financial literacy among his players, aiming to prepare them beyond basketball.
“We try to do a good job here with financial literacy and understanding that this isn’t money just to spend,” he said. “It’s money to invest and hopefully that can be a little long-lasting as they transition from college.”
KEEP READING: Luke Loucks ‘Didn’t Have a Ton of Interest’ in Florida State Job But Reveals What Changed After Long Talks
While Loucks didn’t initially envision a college coaching future—
“I didn’t have a ton of interest in coaching in college,” he admitted—his return to Florida State gradually felt right, both professionally and personally.
“Once Coach Hamilton announced that this would be his final year, and the more those conversations started, we thought about it, prayed about it,” Loucks said. “And eventually, I was like, ‘Okay, let’s dive into this process.’”
Now back at his alma mater, Loucks appears ready to lead in an era that demands both adaptability and principle.
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