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ESPN Staff Writer- Basketball recruiting insider.
- Joined ESPN in 2014.
- Graduate of University of Delaware.
San Diego is hiring Iowa State assistant JR Blount as its next head coach, sources told ESPN.
Blount replaces Steve Lavin, who was informed last month he was being let go at the end of the season.
Considered one of the top rising assistant coaches in the country, Blount has spent the past five seasons under TJ Otzelberger at Iowa State. Blount has helped develop the Cyclones into one of the nation's most consistent programs, winning 120 games during his time in Ames. They're also heading to their fifth straight NCAA tournament appearance.
Iowa State has become a top-15 defense nationally in each of the past five seasons. The Cyclones were first in adjusted defensive efficiency in 2023-24 and have finished in the top five in defensive turnover rate in three of the past four seasons.
Before joining Iowa State, Blount spent three seasons as an assistant at Colorado State under Niko Medved, whom he followed after one season at Drake.
Blount will look to turn around a San Diego men's basketball program that hasn't been to the NCAA tournament or finished above .500 in West Coast Conference play since 2007-08. The Toreros finished 12-21 this past season, going 5-13 in league play.
