USD Introduces New Men’s Basketball Head Coach JR Blount

A new era for USD Men’s Basketball has tipped off, after the introduction of new head coach JR Blount. The campus welcomed Blount to his new home Tuesday, at a press conference in front of the Palomar Health Student Wellness Center.

Blount was emotional, soaking it all in and reflecting on his journey to that moment. He started by thanking his wife (“the real MVP of the family,” he said) and his three daughters, who always brighten his day when he comes home. He also thanked former coaches, colleagues and teammates – everyone who helped mold him to the coach he is today.

Blount wakes up around 4:00 a.m. every day to get started and get his morning workout in. He said he lives by the mantra “Get Better Daily” and will instill that into the Torero Program. Beyond that, he said Torero Men’s Basketball will be built upon three words: Love. Humility. Excellence.

“We start with love because that’s how we will treat each other: with respect, care and genuine investment in one another’s success,” Blount said. “Humility will keep us grounded, no matter what. After we win a WCC championship, you’ll come to practice and it’ll look the exact same as before, because we will continue to work on our daily habits. And excellence is a standard and the expectation.”

Kimya Massey, Associate Vice President and Executive Director of Athletics, is excited for the program’s future. USD brings in a sought-after coach from a top-flight program that’s competing for a national title. But both Massey and USD President James T. Harris III, DEd, spent much of Tuesday not talking about Blount’s X’s and O’s, but about his character, and how strong a fit he is with USD.

“There’s always background work done to determine who the best coaches are, and who they are as people first and foremost. From the very first conversation we had, I knew there was something special about JR. And as I continued to get to know him throughout the process, it was clear that he had incredibly high integrity,” Massey said. “In addition to who he is as a person, his basketball acumen is second to none.”

Blount is widely regarded as a rising star in college basketball. In five seasons at Iowa State, he’s worked his way up to the lead assistant spot on T.J. Otzelberger’s staff. Over his tenure, they’ve compiled a 124-52 record and reached the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 three times. It’s considered one of the greatest program turnarounds in NCAA history. The year before Blount and Otzelberger arrived, Iowa State won just two games. The next season they won 22.

“His innate ability to teach, develop and maximize his players' talents separates him in the basketball coaching world. JR is a skilled teacher, gifted recruiter and an amazing tactical, in-game coach,” Otzelberger said. “JR, his wife Ashley, and their three daughters — Maya, Zuri and Gema — will not only be a tremendous asset to the Torero basketball family, but they will also be valued members of the community. Torero Basketball is in great hands."

Blount said that he’s excited to be a part of Torero Athletics, and plans on being a visible member of the campus community. For now, that will have to wait. Tuesday’s welcome party was fun, but short lived. He had to return to Iowa to rejoin the Cyclones, who are getting ready for a Sweet 16 matchup against Tennessee Friday.