Entering his seventh season on the Wisconsin men's basketball coaching staff in 2016-17, Lamont Paris will do so with the new title of associate head coach after being promoted on April 12, 2016. A 20-year coaching veteran, Paris joined the Badgers' bench as an assistant coach on Sept. 10, 2010 after a six-year stint as an assistant at Akron.
"I am very pleased to elevate Lamont to associate head coach," Greg Gard said. "He is richly deserving of the title change and added responsibilities. From on-court coaching, recruiting and player development, to camps, he will have a major role in everything we do."
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| The Paris File |
| Hometown |
| Findlay, Ohio |
| Education |
| B.S., Business-Economics, Wooster, 1996 |
| M.S. Recreation & Sports Management, Indiana State, 2000 |
| Coaching Experience |
| Associate Head Coach, Wisconsin (2016-present) |
| Assistant Coach, Wisconsin (2010-2016) |
| Assistant Coach, Akron (2005-10) |
| Assistant Coach, Indiana Univ.-Pennsylvania (2001-04) |
| Assistant Coach, DePauw (1999-00) |
| Assistant Coach, Wooster (1997-98) |
During his time in Madison, the Badgers have averaged 27.0 wins per season and advanced to the NCAA tournament all six years. That includes advancing to the Sweet 16 in five of Paris' six seasons on the Badgers' bench and back-to-back Final Four appearances in 2014 and 2015. UW shattered the school's single-season wins record with 36 in 2015 and reached the national championship game for the first time since 1941.
In his six seasons at Akron, Paris served as the lead recruiter and helped guide the Zips to a 139-62 (.692) record and 20-win seasons in each of his final five years. Akron's 23-10 record in 2005-06 marked the school's first 20-win season since 1974-75.
Under his tutelage, Akron garnered four postseasons berths, including winning the 2009 MAC Tournament to advance to the 2009 NCAA Tournament. The Zips also made two NIT appearances and played in the 2010 CBI Tournament in his tenure.
During Paris' time, Akron players earned first or second-team All-MAC honors on six different occasions. Romeo Travis earned MAC Player of the Year in 2007 and honorable mention AP All-America honors.
Prior to his stint at Akron, Paris spent four seasons at Indiana University-Pennsylvania (IUP), helping the Indians compile a 82-36 (.695) record and claim two Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference titles. Paris also spent two seasons as an assistant coach at both DePauw (1999-00) and his alma mater, Wooster (1997-98).
Paris is a member of the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) and the Black Coaches Association. He was one of five men's assistant coaches selected to participate in the BCA's "Achieving Coaching Excellence" program in 2007. Additionally in 2007, he was inducted into Kaleidoscope Magazine's Forty-Forty Club, a list consisting of Cleveland's top 40 African-Americans age 40 and under who have made a difference in the community.
A native of Findlay, Ohio, Paris earned a bachelor's degree in business economics from Wooster in 1996 and a master's degree in recreation and sports management from Indiana State in 2000. Paris played four seasons for Wooster and was named the team's MVP and captain for both his junior and senior seasons. He was also an All-North Coast Athletic Conference pick during his last two seasons. During his playing career, the Scots made three trips to the NCAA Division III tournament and won a pair of conference titles.
