Story from FSU’s official sports news site: Seminoles.com
TALHASSEE – Florida has hired former player and two-time NBA champion Lu Cruck as men’s basketball head coach, and announced the director of FSU’s vice president and athletics Michael Alford on Sunday.
“We look forward to announce that Luke Luke has accepted his offer to become Florida’s next men’s basketball coach,” Alford said. “Luke brings a unique combination of qualities to our program. I am excited to begin the next chapter in basketball history under his leadership. Through basketball, both at the professional and college level, Luke has gained a reputation as one of the rising stars of coaching. It is a number of important parts of what FSU basketball was a player, and he also brings a proven ability to develop players at the highest level of the sport.”
Florida President Richard McCullough said: “Luke’s extraordinary coaching ability, profound leadership skills and extensive basketball knowledge make him the perfect choice to lead the program. As a former Seminole, he understands the values and traditions that define FSU basketball. Under his guidance, we are confident that Florida will continue to be hugely successful and support the proud legacy of seminole basketball. Welcome, coach Luke!”
Loucks brings extensive knowledge and experience to professionals, university and international basketball. He specializes in on-court coaching and player development, and most recently spent time with the Golden State Warriors and Phoenix Suns and staff before serving as assistant coach for the Sacramento Kings.
“I am extremely honored and excited to be the opportunity to be the head coach of the Florida men’s basketball team,” said Lukes. “FSU has a rich basketball tradition. I look forward to being able to build on the legacy of previous coaches, especially manager Hamilton. I would like to thank the Sacramento Kings, Phoenix Suns and Golden State Warriors for providing a strong coaching foundation. I want to build a coaching staff with America’s best and brightest basketball coaches. They have the characteristics that help me build and develop competitive teams each year, whilst supporting me and pushing me. We have the standard of sticking on and off the court that helps build a championship-level culture. I am honored to see firsthand how victory feels at Florida State. And I am hungry more.”
His time in the NBA included working with perennial All-stars Kevin Durant, Steph Curry, Draymond Green, Klay Thompson, Demar Delozan, Dearon Fox, Domantas Sabonis and Zach Lavin. During the Loucks era in Golden State, Durant was named NBA Finals MVP twice, and was also the first team All-NBA selection. Curry won three first-team All-NBA honors on staff Luke, and Green was named NBA Defensive Player of the Year in 2017.
“Our staff recruit and fulfill our roster with a professional basketball aspirations with competitive, advanced IQ and highly skilled players,” says Loucks. “Our job is to shape those individuals into cohesive units that understand our vision and the ways we want to play. My wife and three children are excited to return to Florida where our family lives and the community bond is strong. I can’t wait to build something special in Tallahassee.”
The Loucks were part of the staff who led the Warriors to back-to-back NBA championships, winning the 2017 title in five games with the Cleveland Cavaliers, and wiping out the Cavaliers in 2018, repeating them. The Warriors scored a 46-14 postseason record in their four seasons with the franchise. This included the 16-1 mark in the 2017 playoffs, winning an NBA record in one playoff.
“We are extremely excited about the future of our men’s basketball program and are very pleased that this new era represents a bridge to a successful past with a path to a brighter future,” Alford said. “I’m also excited that Luke and his wife, Steve, have a close understanding of their experience as a student-athlete at FSU. They understand that this is a special place and I’m very grateful that they hope to join in it again.”
Before returning to Tallahassee to lead Florida State, Lukes spent the last three seasons as an assistant coach for the Sacramento Kings. He was Sacramento’s defensive coordinator from 2024-25, helping King do his best defensive show in 20 seasons. In his first two seasons he worked in the King’s attack. The 2022-23 team defeated the NBA’s single-season offensive efficiency rating, with the 119.4 mark outperforming previous records.
His first season with the Kings, 2022-23, the team posted a record of 48-34, the franchise’s most victory since 2004-2005, making the playoffs for the first time since 2005-2006. The following year he helped the Kings score 46 wins in the franchise’s best two-year stretch since the 2004-05 and 2005-06 season. He also coached the Nigerian national team, helped Nigeria beat Team USA in pre-Olympic exhibit games, and ranked number one in all countries, earning an average of 11.0 steals per game at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Loucks helped lead FSU to the NCAA Tournament in all four seasons as a player. For the first time in the history of the program, the Seminoles have advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the fourth consecutive year. He was named to the All-ACC Tournament Team in 2012 after leading Florida to the program’s first ACC Tournament title.
With the ACC Championship Game victory over top seed and fourth-placed North Carolina, the Lukes tied the program record with most assists in the game against ACC opponents at 13. After his FSU career, Loucks played three seasons in Europe for a year in the NBA development league.
Loucks received his Bachelor’s degree in Business Management from Florida in 2011 and a Master’s degree in Sports Management from FSU in 2012. He and his wife Stevi have three children. He is married to former Stevi Steinhauer, who competed in FSU’s freestyle, butterfly and relay events in 2006-10. Looks’ younger sister Emma also attended Florida State’s women’s basketball team as freshman year and her father, Lincoln.
Luke Luke’s coaching history
2025-Florida State Head Coach
2022-25 Sacramento Kings (NBA) Assistant Coach
2021-22 Phoenix Suns (NBA) Basketball Strategy and Personnel Evaluation
2019-21 Golden State Warriors (NBA) Player Development Coach
2017-19 Golden State Warriors (NBA) Two-way Player Development Coach
2016-17 Golden State Warriors (NBA) Film and Player Development Intern
“Luke was an exceptional seminole player who played a key role in leading Florida to the first ACC Championship. I’m extremely proud to be back as the head coach of the program that helped him advance to such a big height. Luke and Stevi embody the meaning of being a seminole. It’s part of who they are. It’s special to have a Florida basketball coach who really understands that. I also want to praise Doug Walker, director of Athletics Michael Alford and assistant director of track and field. Leonard Hamilton, Florida Head Coach 2002-2025
