Kurtis Townsend (born December 13, 1957) is an American basketball coach who is an assistant men's basketball coach at the University of Kansas. Townsend was an assistant on the Jayhawks 2007–08 and 2021-22 NCAA national championship team.[2]

Kurtis Townsend
Current position
TitleAssistant coach
TeamKansas
ConferenceBig 12
Biographical details
Born (1957-12-13) December 13, 1957 (age 66)[1]
Playing career
1978–1980Western Kentucky
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1993–1997California (assistant)
1997–1998Eastern Kentucky (assistant)
1998–2001Michigan (assistant)
2001–2003USC (assistant)
2003–2004Miami (FL) (assistant)
2004–presentKansas (assistant)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships

Playing career

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Townsend is a 1982 graduate of Western Kentucky University, where he completed his bachelor's degree in recreation and played point guard from 1978–80. The team won the 1980 Ohio Valley Conference championship and earned a bid in the 1980 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament where they lost in the first round to Virginia Tech in an overtime game.[3]

Prior to Western Kentucky, Townsend spent two seasons playing at Menlo Junior College in California.

After college, Townsend played one season for the Montana Golden Nuggets of the CBA.

Coaching career

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Townsend had coaching positions at Miami, USC, and Michigan early in his career. He joined Kansas as an assistant in 2004. In his tenure at Kansas, he has won 2 National Championships.[4] Michigan, Eastern Kentucky and Cal.[5][6] In the 2022–23 season, Townsend and head coach Bill Self were suspended for 4 games for recruiting violations.[7]

Personal life

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Townsend resides in Lawrence, Kansas with his wife and his five children. He is the brother of former NBA player Raymond Townsend.

References

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  1. ^ "KURTIS TOWNSEND". hoopszone.net. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  2. ^ KU Athletics Bio
  3. ^ 1980 NCAA VT vs WKU
  4. ^ Townsend leaving USC
  5. ^ USC Bio
  6. ^ Rivals Bio
  7. ^ "Kansas suspends Bill Self for 4 games in infractions case". ESPN.com. 2 November 2022.
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