DJ Stephens is back in the Big Ten. Just not at his old stomping grounds.
Stephens, who spent two decades on Tom Izzo’s staff at Michigan State before a four-year run as head coach at Western Michigan, has joined the coaching staff at Penn State, the school announced this week.
Stephens, 54, is joining the staff of Penn State head coach Mike Rhoades.
“Coach Stephens is one of the most well-respected and accomplished coaches in college basketball,” Rhoades said in a statement this week. “He brings elite experience from every level of the game — from Final Fours and Big Ten championships, to leading his own program as a head coach. He has recruited and developed some of the best players in the country, and his ability to build genuine relationships and impact winning will elevate every part of our program.
“We’re excited for our players and staff to get to work with him every day and are thrilled to welcome Coach Stephens and his family to Happy Valley!”
Stephens was head coach at Western Michigan for four seasons from 2022 until his firing this spring. He had a head-coaching record of 42-84.
Before he was hired at Western Michigan, Stephens was on Izzo’s staff at Michigan State from 2003-22, helping the Spartans reach five Final Fours and the 2009 national championship game at Ford Field.
Known as an elite recruiter and player developer during his days at Michigan State, he is especially credited with the development of such players as Draymond Green, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Miles Bridges.
This will be his first time coaching outside Michigan since 1999-2003, when he was on Tom Crean’s coaching staff at Marquette. Stephens, a Michigan State alum and Ferndale native, began his coaching career under Oakland assistant Greg Kampe.
“I can’t wait to get to State College and help Coach Rhoades continue to build Penn State basketball. I love what he and his staff are doing,” Stephens said in a statement. “It’s a unique time in college athletics and to have the opportunity to join a group that’s doing it the right way is such a privilege.
“The only person more excited about this opportunity than I am is my brother Jarrett.”
Jarrett Stephens played 120 games at Penn State from 1995-2000, averaging 11.4 points and 5.9 rebounds.
Rhoades is entering his fourth season as head coach at Penn State, and has a record of 44-52. He previously was head coach at VCU, Rice and Randolph-Macon. He made the NCAA Tournament three times at VCU, but hasn’t made it at Penn State. The Nittany Lions last were in the NCAA Tournament in 2023.
Stephens received a $420,000 buyout after his firing by Western Michigan. That money is guaranteed, and is not offset by his assistant-coaching salary at Penn State. Stephens’ Penn State salary isn’t yet known.
Western Michigan hired Kahil Fennell as Stephens’ success. Fennell was head coach at Texas-Rio Grande Valley, getting the job over WMU alum Saddi Washington, now an assistant on Izzo’s staff. Izzo made a strong endorsement of Washington and had he landed the job, it could’ve opened a slot for Stephens to return to MSU.
tpaul@detroitnews.com
@tonypaul1984
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Basketball coach DJ Stephens is back in Big Ten, not at Michigan State
Reporting by Tony Paul, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
