Luke Loucks is the latest former Seminole to return to Florida State as a head coach

Being a former Florida State athlete may help get your foot in the door. But the next step is far more important.

"It's not a criteria. They still have to earn the position" FSU Vice President and Athletics Director Michael Alford said of his strategy when hiring a new head coach. "I knew immediately his personality, core values would fit what we have at Florida State.

"But he still had to go win the job."

Luke Loucks did exactly that as the 34-year-old former basketball player was officially introduced last Monday to succeed Leonard Hamilton as the Seminoles' head basketball coach.

The 34-year-old from Clearwater is the latest former FSU athlete to return to his alma mater as a head coach. That list includes Link Jarrett in baseball, Amy Bond in women's golf, Brooke Wycoff in women's basketball and Jennifer Hyde in women's tennis.

Loucks signed a five-year deal with a starting salary of $2 million in 2025-26.

Luke Loucks has a deep understanding of Florida State

Loucks has a deep understanding of FSU culture, expectations, dynamics and pride.

Loucks signed with FSU out of Clearwater High and played for Hamilton from 2008-12. His father was a walk-on under legendary Bobby Bowden in football and his younger sister and uncles attended FSU. Loucks' wife was also an accomplished swimmer at FSU.

Loucks is a winner, too.

FSU made four straight NCAA tournament appearances and won its only ACC Tournament championship in 2012 during his time with the Seminoles. Loucks also won two NBA Championships with the Golden State Warriors during his five seasons on staff as a video coordinator and player development coach.

"I am pretty competitive," Loucks said. "I can't turn it off. I want to win.

"I want to win everywhere I go."

Luke Loucks' lack of head coaching experience shouldn't be an issue

Hamilton, 76, announced last month he planned to step down at FSU at season's end. He will leave as the basketball program's winningest coach in school history after 23 seasons, but the Seminoles have struggled to find consistency and has missed four consecutive NCAA Tournaments.

Loucks will look to reverse that trend despite not having any experience as a head coach. He doesn't believe that void in his resume will be an issue. While Loucks must also navigate the transfer portal and NIL deals, he plans to recruit players that "can form a bond and a commitment to doing things beyond our own individual ambitions." FSU roster this season featured five seniors.

"With my lack of (head coaching) experience, there are going to be question marks," said Loucks, who spent nine years on NBA staffs. "But the reality is, I understand Florida State, I understand the dynamics. I understand what goes into winning at Florida State. I've not only seen it, but I've experienced it, and I've lived it.

"That that gives me a head start. So, if you want someone to lead this team that gets it right, and who understands what type of people succeed here, what type of people won't succeed here, and how to recruit, and how do we evaluate those people? To me, you're not going to find a better person for the job."

Jarrett, a four-year starter at shortstop for the Seminoles under legendary Mike Martin and part of three FSU teams that advanced to the College World Series, also liked what he saw from Loucks during his introductory press conference.

"He has outstanding familiarity with the university and pride in sustaining a winner," said Jarrett, whose wife Jennifer is a former FSU cheerleader. "His desire to run a classy program - Coach Hamilton did that beautifully. Luke learned and absorbed that very well. He's tactically advanced from being around great NBA head coaches, amazing players. His template for style of player is crystal clear, as is his roadmap for in-game play.

"He was really impressive."

Luke Loucks' hiring expects to only strengthen FSU's culture

Bond, a three-time team MVP (1997, 1998, 1999) during her playing career with the Seminoles, also believes Loucks' transition will be helped by his knowledge of FSU.

"Former players have a love for Florida State that others do not," Bond said. "They understand that we play for things bigger than ourselves and that our family culture is unmatched."

When Alford looks to hire a new FSU head coach, he may come across former players interested in the vacancy. Not only does Alford look "more into the future where someone can go and be," he also wants to make sure potential new hires fit into FSU's culture.

"That was so important going through this process of identifying someone who not only knew the game, not only had a vision for where we were going to go and go in the future, but also who fit our other head coaches," Alford said at Loucks' introductory press conference.

"When you look at our head coaches, we have the very best. ... But more importantly, we have a culture amongst those coaches. That is truly special, and it is very important that we found someone who could come in and be a part of that and fit Florida State.

"And we found him (in Loucks)."

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Former Seminole Luke Loucks returns to FSU as a head basketball coach

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Luke Loucks is the latest former Seminole to return to Florida State as a head coach

Luke Loucks has a deep understanding of Florida State

Luke Loucks' lack of head coaching experience shouldn't be an issue

Luke Loucks' hiring expects to only strengthen FSU's culture

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