Todd Lee
Biographical details
Born (1964-02-20) February 20, 1964 (age 60)
Huron, South Dakota, U.S.
Alma materUniversity of South Dakota
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1986–1989Southwestern CC (assistant)
1989–1992San Diego (assistant)
1992–1994Rapid City Thrillers (assistant)
1994–1997Cal State Bakersfield (assistant)
1997–2005UC Irvine (assistant)
2005–2013Kentucky Wesleyan
2013–2018Grand Canyon (assistant)
2018–2022South Dakota
2022–presentArkansas (assistant)
Head coaching record
Overall220–133 (.623)
Tournaments2–5 (NCAA Division II)
Accomplishments and honors
Awards
Summit League Coach of the Year (2021)

Todd Walter Lee (born February 20, 1964)[1] is an American college basketball coach who is the former head coach of the South Dakota Coyotes men's basketball team.

Coaching career

Assistant coach (1986–2005)

After graduating from the University of South Dakota in 1986, Lee's first coaching job was as an assistant coach at Southwestern College in California where he stayed until 1989 when he joined Hank Egan's staff at San Diego from 1989 to 1992. Lee then headed to the professional ranks for two seasons as an assistant coach for the Rapid City Thrillers of the CBA under Eric Musselman.[2]

Lee returned to college coaching as an assistant coach under Pat Douglass at Cal State Bakersfield where he was on staff for the Roadrunners 1997 NCAA Division II national title winning squad.[3] Lee followed Douglass to UC Irvine as an assistant coach and was on staff until 2005.[4]

Kentucky Wesleyan (2005–2013)

On May 28, 2005, Lee became head coach at Kentucky Wesleyan, an NCAA Division II school.[1] Inheriting a program with limited scholarships due to NCAA sanctions, Lee had only 20 wins in his first two seasons.[5] However, in eight seasons at Kentucky Wesleyan, Lee went 154-81 with five straight NCAA Division II Tournament appearances from 2008 to 2012, advancing to the Sweet 16 round in 2012.[5][6]

Grand Canyon assistant (2013–2018)

On April 9, 2013, Lee joined Dan Majerle's staff at Grand Canyon as the team transitioned to Division I.[2][5]

South Dakota (2018–2022)

On April 4, 2018 Lee was named the 19th head coach in South Dakota history, replacing Craig Smith, who departed for the Utah State head coaching position.[7] Following a second place finish in the Summit League for the 2020–21 season, Lee was named Summit League Coach of the Year.[8] He was fired on March 10, 2022, despite finishing with a 66-52 mark in four seasons.[9]

Arkansas (2022-present)

After his release from South Dakota, Lee was hired by Arkansas head coach Eric Musselman in 2022 as an assistant coach and director of scouting.

Personal life

Lee grew up in Huron, South Dakota.[1] He has three children; when he took the job at South Dakota in 2018, his wife and children stayed in Arizona.[10]

Head coaching record

Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Kentucky Wesleyan Panthers (Great Lakes Valley Conference) (2005–2013)
2005–06 Kentucky Wesleyan 7–19 4–15 12th
2006–07 Kentucky Wesleyan 13–14 6–13 12th
2007–08 Kentucky Wesleyan 24–8 14–5 3rd NCAA Division II First Round
2008–09 Kentucky Wesleyan 19–9 11–7 5th NCAA Division II first round
2009–10 Kentucky Wesleyan 29–5 16–2 1st NCAA Division II first round
2010–11 Kentucky Wesleyan 19–10 10–8 5th NCAA Division II first round
2011–12 Kentucky Wesleyan 23–8 12–6 6th NCAA Division II regional final
2012–13 Kentucky Wesleyan 20–8 11–7 7th
Kentucky Wesleyan: 154–81 (.655) 84–63 (.571)
South Dakota Coyotes (Summit League) (2018–2022)
2018–19 South Dakota 13–17 7–9 T–5th
2019–20 South Dakota 20–12 10–6 3rd
2020–21 South Dakota 14–11 11–4 2nd
2021–22 South Dakota 19–12 11–7 2nd
South Dakota: 66–52 (.559) 39–26 (.600)
Total: 220–133 (.623)

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

References

  1. ^ a b c "Todd Lee" (PDF). 2008-2009 Kentucky Wesleyan Basketball. Kentucky Wesleyan College. 2008. pp. 6–7. Retrieved December 1, 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Grand Canyon University Athletics". www.gculopes.com.
  3. ^ NAJARIAN, ARA (17 December 1997). "Seniors Lead Bakersfield to Title" – via LA Times.
  4. ^ "South Dakota names Lee men's basketball coach". University of South Dakota. April 4, 2018. Retrieved December 1, 2021.
  5. ^ a b c "Todd Lee leaving Kentucky Wesleyan for Grand Canyon". Kentucky Wesleyan College. April 9, 2013. Retrieved December 1, 2021.
  6. ^ "Todd Lee". University of South Dakota. Retrieved December 1, 2021.
  7. ^ "University of South Dakota hires Todd Lee as next men's basketball coach".
  8. ^ "Oral Roberts' Abmas collects #SummitMBB Player of the Year honors" (Press release). Summit League. March 4, 2021. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
  9. ^ "USD fires men's basketball coach Todd Lee after four seasons". Mitchell Daily Republic. March 10, 2022. Retrieved March 14, 2022.
  10. ^ Obert, Richard (January 10, 2019). "Family transition: Jackson Lee honors Seton hoops, while his dad coaches at South Dakota". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved December 1, 2021.
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