Danny Sprinkle’s first coaching staff with the Washington men’s basketball team is an eclectic mix with nearly 100 of years of combined experience, including Tony Bland, who returns to college basketball seven years after being a key figure in a high-profile FBI investigation.
The former USC associate coach was one of 10 individuals arrested in a 2017 corruption scandal that engulfed the sport.
In 2019, Bland pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery and accepting $4,100 to steer players to certain financial advisers and business managers once they turned pro. He received two year’s probation.
Bland, who has spent the past few years coaching the St. Bernard High boys basketball team in Los Angeles, also received a three-year show-cause penalty from the NCAA that expired last month.
“Coach Bland has tremendous basketball knowledge and a winning pedigree,” Sprinkle said in a statement. “He has worked with and learned from some of the greatest coaches in our game and our guys will appreciate his perspective as a former player himself.
“He has a passion for developing young kids and that is why he is excellent in this line of work. He is the gym rat who will be in the gym at 6 a.m. shooting with players until late at night. I am super excited to welcome him to UW.”
Sprinkle also hired Andy Hill, who was on his staff the past two years at Utah State and Montana State.
“Coach Hill has done an incredible job the past two seasons, and I am thrilled for him to join me in Seattle,” Sprinkle said. “He is a grinder who is tremendously detailed in his craft. Our players will love his daily approach and the positivity he brings. Andy has an impressive winning resume and is a great person to have on our bench.”
In addition, the Huskies retained Jerry Hobbie, who has been with the Huskies the past six years, and brought in DeMarlo Slocum, who was with the Utah Utes the past two seasons.
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