Arizona Wildcats assistant coach Damon Stoudamire will leave Tuscon and return to Memphis, where he began his college coaching career. CBS Sports’ Gary Parrish reported the development. Though it may seem like a shocking decision, as Stoudamire is an Arizona alum and it is more of a contending program than Memphis.
However, Stoudamire took to Twitter and explained his decision fully.
I tell u the last 72 hrs have been tough but, let me take everyone into my mind for a moment! Every since I was 7 yrs old I dedicated my
— Damon Stoudamire (@Iambiggie503) May 18, 2015
Life to being a NBA baller! Yes, I was selfish every step of the way. I had a great 13 yr career in the NBA. When I retired I started
— Damon Stoudamire (@Iambiggie503) May 18, 2015
Coaching and fell in love with it! I have ability lots of ppl struggle with and that dealing with kids! It's always been that way! As
— Damon Stoudamire (@Iambiggie503) May 18, 2015
When I left Memphis it was about a opportunity to come back to my alma mater and represent U of A the best I could! Strange thing is I
— Damon Stoudamire (@Iambiggie503) May 18, 2015
Found out a lot who Damon Stoudamire actually was! I had changed. I wasn't the same guy anymore! The question became were as good as any
— Damon Stoudamire (@Iambiggie503) May 18, 2015
Team in the country, we have pros,
I work for 1 of the best dudes and basketball minds in the country! Why do i feel empty? I'm— Damon Stoudamire (@Iambiggie503) May 18, 2015
I'm helping raise everybody else's kids but, what about my 2 boys?! They need me too. All my playing yrs I was selfish and it worked out
— Damon Stoudamire (@Iambiggie503) May 18, 2015
For me but, now it's not about me it's about my boys! I never really knew how I felt till I missed seeing them play in football and
— Damon Stoudamire (@Iambiggie503) May 18, 2015
Basketball games! I was finally there dad again. Not the guy on TV anymore. I'd finally built our relationship where it needed to be.
— Damon Stoudamire (@Iambiggie503) May 18, 2015
This opportunity to still do what I love coaching bball and helping kids but, being by my own was to good to pass up! In my eyes it's the
— Damon Stoudamire (@Iambiggie503) May 18, 2015
Best of both worlds! Arizona bball is in great place with a great coach, passionate fans, great administration! I will always be AZ to
— Damon Stoudamire (@Iambiggie503) May 18, 2015
The heart but, right now it's just not about me. #beardown#AZ4life#
— Damon Stoudamire (@Iambiggie503) May 18, 2015
Thus, while Arizona fans will surely miss having one of their own on head coach Sean Miller’s staff, it’s hard to find fault with Stoudamire’s reasoning. He’s not getting any younger at age 41, and returning to Memphis will allow him to be closer to his sons, who live in Atlanta. Sure, it may be a step down from a team that went 34-4 (16-2 Pac-12) and won its first Pac-12 Championship since 2002 and has been to two straight Elite Eights, but he has a strong relationship with Tigers coach Josh Pastner and will be instrumental in getting the team back to the big dance after missing it for the first time since 2010 last year.
Stoudamire spent four years playing under Hall of Famer Lute Olson at Arizona, averaging 15 points and 5.4 assists per contest and playing an instrumental role in getting the team to the Final Four in 1994. He was then drafted seventh overall by the Toronto Raptors in the 1995 NBA Draft and averaged 13.4 points and 6.1 assists across 12 seasons with them, the Portland Trail Blazers, Memphis Grizzlies and San Antonio Spurs.
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*Featured Photo (above) credit to USA TODAY Sports