April 15, 2013
SAN DIEGO - Justin Hutson, a former San Diego State men's basketball assistant coach, is returning to Montezuma Mesa for a second stint, head coach Steve Fisher announced Monday. Hutson, who served as assistant coach at SDSU from 2006-2011, returns to the Aztecs after serving as an associate head coach at UNLV the past two seasons.
Hutson is reunited with Fisher, Brian Dutcher and Mark Fisher, a coaching group with which he spent five seasons previously. During that staff's five-year tenure, the Aztecs earned postseason berths and won 20 or more games in each of those five campaigns (25.4 wins per year). SDSU also won six postseason tournament games, including three in the 2009 NIT where they appeared in the national semifinals and two in the 2011 NCAA tournament in a year in which San Diego State finished with a 34-3 record, advanced to the Sweet 16 and ended with a national ranking of No. 6/11 (AP/Coaches). At the Mountain West level, the Aztecs won the 2010 and 2011 tournament titles and the 2011 regular-season crown.
Hutson was part of a staff that set numerous school records, including many that still stand today. Among those are wins, conference wins, most games above .500, longest winning streaks, highest winning percentage, most points, highest scoring margin, lowest opponent scoring average, highest rebound margin, most field goals, most three-point field goals made, most blocked shots and most steals. During the latter part of his time with the Aztecs, Hutson took on the role of defensive coordinator and helped SDSU lead the Mountain West in scoring defense in 2009, 2010 and 2011.
While on The Mesa, Hutson played a pivotal part in San Diego State's recruiting efforts. He was instrumental in securing a pair of nationally recognized recruiting classes, including the No. 15 class leading into the 2009-10 campaign, which included 2011 NBA first-round draft pick Kawhi Leonard and the recently departed and four-year starter Chase Tapley. That class was also rated the top group among non-automatic qualifying BCS schools by a pair of recruiting sites.
Prior to his decision to return to San Diego State, Hutson helped UNLV to a pair of 25-plus-win seasons and two NCAA tournament appearances. He played a key role in helping the Rebels bring in a highly regarded recruiting class last year.
Hutson's other collegiate coaching stops include stints at Cal Poly and Cal State Bakersfield, the last of which he won two Division II national championships as a student-athlete.
A native of Bakersfield, Hutson earned his bachelor's degree in physical education from CSUB in 1994 and his teaching credential in 1995. He also has his master's in education from the school after completing his coursework in 2009.
San Diego State ended the 2012-13 season with a 23-11 record and advanced to the third round of the NCAA tournament. This past season, the Aztecs extended school records for consecutive NCAA tournament appearances (4), consecutive postseason tournament appearances (8) and consecutive 20-win seasons (8). SDSU has sold out a school-record 22 consecutive home games dating back to the 2011-12 campaign.
Fans interested in purchasing tickets for the 2013-14 campaign may contact the SDSU ticket office at (619) 283-7378.