Florida State’s new men’s basketball head coach, Luke Loucks, is stepping into the spotlight with a bold vision to transform the Seminoles into a championship title contender. Announced as the eighth head coach in program history on March 9, 2025, the 34-year-old former Seminole point guard and NBA assistant brings a lot of experience to the table.
In a recent appearance on “The Field of 68: After Dark” podcast, Loucks shared the NBA learnings he plans to instill at Florida State, blending a championship culture with modern basketball strategies tailored to the college game.
Luke Loucks Is All Set To Bring His NBA Experience To The College Level For Florida State
Loucks credits his coaching philosophy to mentors Gregg Popovich, Steve Kerr, and Mike Brown. “There’s something to be said about the way Popovich has always [coached],” Loucks said on the podcast.
“It goes beyond X’s and O’s and strategy. It’s a standard and a championship way of doing things.”
This standard, focusing on intensity as well as the enjoyment of the game, shaped Loucks teaching methods during his time with the Warriors (2016-21) thanks to his proximity with Kerr and Brown, both whom worked under Popovich.
There, Loucks contributed to NBA titles in 2017 and 2018, and with the Kings, he served as defensive coordinator in 2024-25.
Kerr and Brown, though different in terms of personality, share the same kind of drive for excellence. “Both have a seriousness with their preparation and a standard of excellence every day,” Loucks said, pointing at their ability to balance their focus on discipline as well as enjoyment.
He aims to replicate this culture at Florida State, fostering a locker room where players embrace a “child’s game” with professional discipline. His experience with All-Stars like Kevin Durant, Steph Curry, and De’Aaron Fox further highlights his ability to develop talent at the highest level.
Loucks’ Approach On Navigating The NIL Era
The modern college game, with its transfer portal and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) dynamics, presents some challenges. Loucks acknowledged Florida State’s limited NIL budget compared to powerhouses like Kentucky or Illinois.
“We’ve signed 10 players, and I know for a fact we haven’t had the highest bid on a single one,” he told “The Field of 68.”
Instead, he’s pitching to his player with a long-term value of development that leads to lucrative NBA contracts.
“I can’t promise you’ll get there, but I can promise nobody in the country can help you the way I can,” he tells recruits, leveraging his experience running NBA draft workouts and coaching All-Stars like Domantas Sabonis.
Despite no head coaching experience, Loucks’ rapid rise shows that he has the potential needed for a job like this. Facing a tough ACC slate and a 17-14 record from 2024-25, Loucks must make his way with the roster turnover and NIL constraints.
KEEP READING: 2025 Men’s College Basketball Transfer Portal Tracker
However, his NBA-honed strategies, player development expertise, and passion for FSU position him to rekindle the Seminoles’ NCAA Tournament hopes by 2026.
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