Penn State’s men’s basketball program has named Dwayne Stephens as its newest assistant coach, a move that follows the departure of two longtime assistants to other schools.
A recruiter with Big Ten pedigree
Stephens arrives with nearly three decades of college coaching experience, having spent 19 seasons on Tom Izzo’s staff at Michigan State before leading Western Michigan for four seasons.
His reputation rests on a keen eye for talent and a knack for shaping raw prospects into polished performers, a skill set that helped usher NBA standouts such as Draymond Green, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Miles Bridges onto professional rosters.
A personal connection
Stephens expressed genuine excitement about the opportunity, citing his brother Jarrett Stephens — a Penn State basketball alumnus — as a personal tie to the university and its community.
Looking ahead
Coach Mike Rhoades highlighted the hire as a chance to bolster recruiting pipelines and deepen player development, noting that Stephens’ track record of guiding teams to 20 NCAA Tournament appearances and six Final Four runs aligns with the program’s ambitions.