Utah State University announced Tuesday that Thomas Kithier will join the Aggies' men's basketball program as an assistant coach and video coordinator, a move that consolidates his diverse background in player development and analytics.
Kithier arrives after a stint at Western Michigan, where he helped the Broncos climb to fourth in the Mid‑American Conference for overall rebounding and third in offensive rebounding, while also refining the team's free‑throw shooting.
His analytical work continued in the NBA, first with the Utah Jazz, where he served as an assistant video coordinator and player development coach, collaborating with stars such as Lauri Markkanen and John Collins, and later contributing to the franchise's 2023 and 2024 Summer League squads.
Before his professional experience, Kithier began his coaching trajectory at Valparaiso University, his alma mater, after a collegiate career that included two seasons at Michigan State, where the Spartans captured back‑to‑back Big Ten regular‑season titles, a tournament championship and a run to the 2019 Final Four.
From College Star to Coaching Innovator
At Michigan State he appeared in 86 games, starting 19, and later transferred to Valparaiso for his senior year, posting averages of 10.1 points and 6.6 rebounds while earning a bachelor's degree in advertising and a master's in sports administration/media.
The hiring underscores Utah State's intent to blend on‑court instruction with advanced video analysis, a combination that could reshape the Aggies' approach to opponent scouting and player preparation.
A New Era for Utah State
Ben Jacobson, head coach of the Aggies, highlighted the hire in a statement, noting that Kithier's blend of analytical rigor and hands‑on player development will complement the existing staff.
The move also places Kithier alongside former NBA players turned analysts, including Lauri Markkanen, John Collins, Collin Sexton, Walker Kessler and Kelly Olynyk, who have all been cited in recent media as influences or mentors in his career.