It's Official: Tyus Edney - Mr. 4.8 Seconds - Returning To UCLA
Guess we have a good sense of timing. lol. It's true. This is happening. Tyus Edney, a living Bruin legend and one of our favorite Bruins of all time is coming back home to Westwood. We connected the dots earlier this afternoon and now it has become official.
Edney is returning where it all began as the latest member of Ben Howland's staff at UCLA.Specifically Tyus is going to replace Joe Hillock as the Director of Basketball Operations ("DBO") at UCLA. Not clear where Hillock is going but reading between the lines he is probably moving on to a great opportunity for him, opening up the door for a return of legend to Westwood.
The official release is not out yet. We got the news via this official tweet:
M. Basketball. It's official! Tyus Edney is our new Director of Operations. News release to follow.
We will post the release when it is out. Here is the official release and welcome from Coach Howland:
"I'm really excited that Tyus is joining our staff and returning to the UCLA men's basketball program," Howland said. "He's a Bruin through and through having graduated from UCLA and brings a wealth of knowledge and energy to the program. I feel our student-athletes will benefit greatly from dealing with Tyus on a daily basis because he has experienced the things they will experience here at UCLA."
"He's had an illustrious professional career both in the NBA and overseas," Howland added. "I'm very excited that he's back home."
And Edney's statement:
"I'm really excited because this is something that I've always wanted to do," Edney said. "I'm very fortunate to be ending my pro career now with this opportunity presenting itself. I'm thankful that Coach Howland gave me this opportunity and has the confidence that I can bring something new and exciting to this great program."
Welcome home number 11 (who brought home banner number 11).
As mentioned in previous post this is going to fire up the entire Bruin Nation. This will help the development of our young guards. It will go long way in leaving no doubt about how UCLA is the ultimate Point Guard U.
Time to celebrate. What a fantastic move by Coach Howland.
GO BRUINS.
UPDATE (N): As DBO per our conversation with UCLA folks, Edney’s duties will include but not limited to assisting “with various logistics associated with the program, assisting the coaches and student-athletes with various tasks, acting as a liaison with other departments in athletics and in the university." Also, while it is true that Edney cannot coach and cannot recruit off-campus as the DBO, he can meet and speak to recruits on campus just like any university employee. GO BRUINS.
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Finally someone on the staff that has the potential do actually DO something… I kid, I kid, too exaggerative. But awesome move here to get back on track
Formerly ucla13_usc9
Outstanding.
Watching him play during that 95 tournament was one of the highlights of my life. I was able to watch with my grandmother (UCLA class of ’41). She passed away a year ago this weekend and reading this great news today reminded me of those great moments 15 years ago.
Simply awesome.
I can’t wait to see him wandering the sidelines. Can you say goosebumps?
The best thing you can do for your children is to love their mother. John Wooden
Question
Does anybody know what the DBO’s job description is? How involved will Tyus be in practice/recruiting?
A (very) generic description
Director of Basketball Operations Job Description – eHow
One bit to note:
On the college level, the NCAA strictly prohibits the director of basketball operations from coaching, assisting in coaching or recruiting.
by SuperBruinMan on Aug 2, 2010 6:00 PM PDT up reply actions
Not completely true
Spoke to UCLA officials about this. It is true that Edney cannot coach and cannot recruit off-campus. However, he can meet and speak to recruits on campus just like any university employee.
In general, as DBO per our conversation with UCLA folks, Edney’s duties will include but not limited to assisting “with various logistics associated with the program, assisting the coaches and student-athletes with various tasks, acting as a liaison with other departments in athletics.”
Not sure of the specific restrictions
But Joe Hillock was always on the bench right next to Coach Howland. I have to imagine that if in-game support was prohibited by the NCAA, then the DBO wouldn’t even be on the bench.
by insomniacslounge on Aug 2, 2010 10:06 PM PDT up reply actions
huge news!
As a class of 95 alum, Tyus (and Ed and big George, et al) holds a very special place in my memory of college. I am so excited about this news and the new direction of our hoops program under CBH. This news almost made me forget about football for a day…ha ha.
Welcome home Tyus and Go Bruins!
by DoubleTroubleBruin on Aug 2, 2010 6:20 PM PDT via mobile reply actions
Random fact
When Tyus and CRN were on campus together for their first year (that would be the first year of UCLA entering freshman class of 1991) UCLA football broke a 4 game winless streak against Southern Cal (starting an 8 game win streak) and UCLA basketball won the Pac-10 (setting the foundation of 1995 NC run with Edney and Ed O). Just sayin. ;-)
Impressive point by Coach Howland
I really like the fact Coach Howland references the fact that Director (?) Edney graduated from UCLA. These one or two or three and dones need to pay attention.
Go Bruins!
by peggysue69 on Aug 2, 2010 7:52 PM PDT via mobile reply actions
Such a great hire.
I can’t think of a greater goodwill ambassador for our Program. I wouldn’t be surprised if Tyus ends up being a lifetime Bruin. I imagine that he will find it hard to refrain from directly coaching, but I imagine he would still be able to impart wisdom to point guards from time to time.
YEAH BABY! YEAH BABY! YEAH BABY!
Let’s just say I had more than a hunch! It just felt right ever since Nestor brought up the possibility weeks ago. If you haven’t met him yet, make a point to do so, some way somehow. I can’t tell you how awesome Tyus is as a person. This is really fantastic news!
But hey, what do I know. I’m just the 800 lbs bruin in the room.
Funny you should say that...
A friend of mine has a son (8 yrs.) who plays youth BBall in Long Beach. Earlier this year, he asked me if I remembered the ’95 team. Apparently Tyus has a son in the same league, and was around many of the practices and games. My friend was most impressed with him as a person and could not say enough about how good he was with all of the kids and the parents too. I was glad to hear that he was representing UCLA well, and that he continues to be a genuine person who enjoys being around the game even at the most introductory level. Great job CBH and UCLA. Congrats to Tyus and good luck in the coming years!
Seems like more of an admin position
Do we think he will transition at some point to an assistant coach? It will be interesting to see how he is used and what is career trajectory looks like over the next few years.
Agree this is a great hire. In whatever capacity, I’m glad he is back affiliated with the program.
With Tyus' persona & competitive traits
I wouldn’t be surpised he became the Bruins’ AD someday.
Edney’s games at Pauley simply delighted everyone. He played with gusto in his slight, 5’11" frame and compensated his lack of size with a quick, accurate shooting touch anywhere within the perimeter, lightning quick sprints up and own court, and penetrate the lane well for layups and stealthy offensive rebounds when others least expected it. That infectious personality of his was also such a killer too.
He was Peter Pan in gym shorts.
I am glad he is back affiliated with the program
and thinks this adds to some good vibes around the program right now; but it is unclear how much impact the world’s best DBO could have, and unknown whether he is himself well suited to the administrative tasks. Seems like this might be a transitional position to get back into the fold, get back around college basketball, and then get into something more related to coaching. Either way, this is a nice story – welcome home!
Tyus definitely has
coaching potentials and aspirations. This is just to get into the door, so to speak. That infectious personality, on top of his stellar background will get him somewhere.
All I remember was how he endeared the Pauley crowds to no ends. Were we envy of him.
Welcome back!
Tyus’ dash was one of two times in my life that I have joyously hugged men :-)
by RealisticBruinFan on Aug 2, 2010 10:36 PM PDT reply actions
Tasty Side Note
According to Gold:
Regarding former UCLA DBO Joe Hillock, he told me he’s headed to Stoneridge Prep to become the new varsity head coach. Joe has wanted to get back into coaching, and he was up for the CSUN women’s head gig that went to Jason Flowers.
(Happy Dance) A former Howland recruiting guru is moving into a coaching position at the west coast’s best prep school. Did somebody say pipeline?
Even if he had not been such a great player, he has always been a classy guy
That’s another reason to applaud the decision, and another example of the difference between UCLA and that other place. Their stars who come home are OJ1 and Ethical Pat.
Rock solid, WIN-WIN move by CBH and Tyus
(Sorry, folks — been moving to new house and working on MSJs the past couple of weeks.)
Sound move by CBH to solidify staff and internal structure. Helps both sides here.
CBH/ Staff
- Puts beloved alumnus into staff, which can help with alumni relations. Brings wealth of experience of different styles of NBA and Euro ball onto staff for game analysis/ film review
-
- Grooms potential assistant coach in CBH’s system/ techniques, AND (perhaps most important) Even if he can’t coach out on the floor and in practice, can still give the players the “ombudsman” type/ big-brother type that a lot of people figured we needed with the departure of Keating.
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Tyus
- Gets experience under a top-flight HC in his first Div. 1 coaching/ admin gig Gets exposure in high-profile program
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— Comes home.
Like I said, win-win.
M
"In this program your passion bucket must be full to play SC." -- CRN, to Dan Patrick, 1/2008
good point on Euro ball
perhaps he has some insight into some of those big European shooters that every good team needs… :-)
by britishbruin on Aug 3, 2010 11:16 AM PDT up reply actions
it's a little unclear to me what constitutes "coaching"
Like, if Zeke Jones is practicing on his free time in Pauley, then Tyus comes in and gives a few pointers.
I hope CBH and company draw a clear line, we don’t want to be committing accidental violations.

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