The University of Oregon announced the addition of Tom Hankins, a 30‑year coaching veteran, to its men’s basketball staff as an assistant coach, a move that brings a wealth of NCAA, NBA and G League experience to the program.
Coaching Legacy
Hankins’s career spans more than three decades, beginning in 1991 at Northwest Missouri State and including high school coaching before his collegiate breakthrough at Oral Roberts University, where he guided the Golden Eagles to five Summit League championships and three NCAA Tournament berths from 1997 to 2012.
After his tenure at Oral Roberts, he served as head coach at Central Oklahoma University from 2015 to 2019 and as associate head coach at Southern Illinois University for three seasons, before joining the Indiana Pacers organization, where he worked as an assistant player development coach and later led the Noblesville Boom, the Pacers’ G League affiliate, from 2020 to 2026.
His most recent role involved overseeing player development for both the Pacers and their G League team, a position that sharpened his focus on nurturing talent across the basketball spectrum and aligns with Oregon’s emphasis on building a deep, versatile roster.
Looking Ahead
Head coach Dana Altman, who has guided the Ducks through multiple Pac‑12 campaigns, praised the hire, noting Hankins’s proven record of developing players and his familiarity with the Pacers’ organizational philosophy, which should help bridge the gap between college and professional levels.
The appointment underscores Oregon’s commitment to bolstering its coaching bench with seasoned talent capable of enhancing recruiting, scouting and the day‑to‑day development of its athletes, a strategy that could prove vital as the program aims to contend for conference titles and NCAA tournament success.