Milwaukee Native JR Blount Lands NCAA Division I Basketball Coaching Job

Longtime assistant coach takes over San Diego Toreros program

Published on Mar. 10, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

JR Blount, a former star at Whitefish Bay Dominican High School and longtime NCAA Division I men's basketball assistant coach, has been hired as the new head coach of the San Diego Toreros. Blount, who has spent the past five seasons as an assistant at Iowa State, will look to turn around a San Diego program that has struggled in recent years, making the NCAA Tournament only four times in school history and not since 2008.

Why it matters

Blount's hiring represents an opportunity for a Milwaukee-area native to lead a Division I program, showcasing the talent that can come out of the city's high school basketball scene. San Diego is also looking to revive its struggling basketball program, and Blount's experience as an assistant at high-level programs like Iowa State could help him build the Toreros into a contender in the West Coast Conference.

The details

Blount, a three-year captain at Loyola University in Chicago, won two Division 3 state titles as the top player on Dominican's basketball team in 2004 and 2005. After college, he spent time as a graduate assistant at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, helping the Pointers win the 2010 NCAA Division III national title. Blount then moved into assistant coaching roles at Colorado State and Iowa State, helping the Cyclones emerge as an annual single-digit seed in the NCAA Tournament over the past five seasons.

  • Blount was hired as San Diego's new head coach on March 9, 2026.
  • San Diego has not made the NCAA Tournament since 2008.

The players

JR Blount

A former star at Whitefish Bay Dominican High School and longtime NCAA Division I men's basketball assistant coach, who has been hired as the new head coach of the San Diego Toreros.

T.J. Otzelberger

The head coach at Iowa State, where Blount has served as an assistant coach for the past five seasons.

Steve Lavin

The former UCLA coach who has led the San Diego Toreros for the past four years.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“I'm incredibly honored and grateful for the opportunity to lead USD men's basketball. This is more than just a coaching position for me — it's a chance to become part of a community and build something meaningful. My wife and our three daughters are excited to make this move together and we can't wait to invest in this university and the relationships that make it special.”

— JR Blount (San Diego release)

What’s next

Blount will look to quickly turn around a San Diego program that has struggled in recent years, with the goal of leading the Toreros back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2008.

The takeaway

Blount's hiring represents an opportunity for a Milwaukee-area native to lead a Division I program, showcasing the talent that can come out of the city's high school basketball scene. His experience as an assistant at high-level programs like Iowa State could help him build the Toreros into a contender in the West Coast Conference.