Musselman adds Lee to coaching staff
FAYETTEVILLE – University of Arkansas head basketball coach Eric Musselman has named former University of South Dakota head basketball coach Todd Lee the Razorbacks’ Director of Scouting and Assistant to the Head Coach.
Lee and Musselman have a relationship that spans 30-plus years. Lee was on Musselman’s staff with the Rapid City Thrillers from 1992-94 after serving three years (1989-92) as an assistant coach under legendary University of San Diego head coach Hank Egan, who was Musselman’s coach with the Toreros.
Also, Lee mentored 2021-22 Razorback Stanley Umude to three All-Summit League honors while playing at South Dakota.
In addition to his connections with Musselman, Lee’s has ties to Northwest Arkansas as his parents – M.O. and Wanda – lived in Bentonville for over 20 years after his father retired.
“Todd is exceptionally detailed and specific,” Musselman said. “He is a veteran coach and he’s here to serve as an additional pair of eyes. He will bring new ideas to the staff on how to view things, how to scheme on both ends of the court and how to attack things.
“It’s always been a collective deal on our staffs. We are always looking for ideas and input which is why and how our staff has been assembled.
“One of the things about being a former head coach is, when you’re not a head coach, you know what it takes to be a great assistant and Todd Lee will be a perfect fit in that regard.”
Lee, a two-time conference Coach of the Year and finalist for national Coach of the Year, spent four seasons as head coach at the University of South Dakota and has 12 years of collegiate head coaching experience to his credit.
He was 66-52 at South Dakota (2018-22) and was 154-81 in eight years at Kentucky Wesleyan (2005-13). Lee has also been an assistant coach at Southwestern CC (198689), Cal State Bakersfield (1994-97), UC Irvine (1997-2005) and Grand Canyon (2013-18).
Lee led South Dakota to a 19-12 record in 202122, including a 12-5 mark down the stretch after a two-week shutdown of the program due to COVID, while reaching the Summit League semifinals.
In his third season at South Dakota (202021), Lee earned the 2021 Summit League Coach of the Year honors.
The Coyotes started conference play 9-0 for the first time since the 1992-93 season and reeled off 10 straight wins for its longest streak since the 2009-10 campaign.
Lee's squad also knocked off South Dakota State in Frost Arena for the first time since the 1999-00 season, snapping SDSU's 32-game conference home win streak.
The Coyotes finished the season ranked eighth in the nation in 3-point field goal percentage, 14th in the nation in free throw percentage and 15th in the nation in turnover percentage.
In the Summit League, the Coyotes ranked first in free throw percentage and defensive field goal percentage.