Desmond Haymon joins LA Tech men’s hoops coaching staff

RUSTON – Louisiana Tech men’s basketball head coach Eric Konkol announced on Thursday the addition of Desmond Haymon as an assistant coach on the Bulldog staff.

Haymon comes to Ruston having spent the last nine seasons in Nacogdoches, Texas at Stephen F. Austin where he was a player, graduate manager and assistant coach.

“Desmond Haymon is a tremendous person and has an energy about him that brings the best out of people,” said Konkol. “He has experience playing and coaching in the NCAA Tournament and has also developed a reputation as a skilled recruiter. Our student-athletes will feel his energy every day and benefit from his strong work ethic and genuine interest in their development. We are very happy to have Desmond, his wife Chandra, and their son DJ join the Louisiana Tech family.”

For the past two years, Haymon has worked as an assistant coach for the Lumberjacks under head coach Kyle Keller. He played a key role in the development of guards Shannon Bogues and Kevon Harris who both were two-time All-Southland Conference selections.

In his first year as an assistant coach in 2017-18, he helped the ‘Jacks to a 28-7 overall record, including a program-best 16 home wins, and a Southland Tournament championship which resulted in a trip to the NCAA Tournament.

The year culminated with Haymon being named to the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Under Armour 30-Under-30 list. The NABC’s annual list recognizes the exemplary efforts of young men’s basketball coaches and featured 15 NCAA Division I assistant coaches, including Haymon.

“I am humbled and excited for the opportunity to join coach Konkol and his staff in Ruston,” said Haymon. “He has maintained Louisiana Tech’s reputation as one of the nation’s premier programs while the fans and Ruston community made this chance one I could not pass up.

“For almost a decade, SFA and the Nacogdoches community have been my home. I will be forever grateful for every opportunity SFA gave me, both as a player and a coach. The program and community will always hold a special place in my heart.”

From 2014-17, the Pickens, Mississippi native spent his time at SFA as a graduate assistant/video coordinator. In that role, he assisted in film breakdown, opponent scouting, creating recruiting materials as well as working in practices, workouts and other day-to-day office duties.

During this time, the ‘Jacks won the Southland Conference regular season and tournament titles twice, advancing to the NCAA Tournament on two occasions.

Haymon was no stranger to the Big Dance. As a senior in 2013-14, he was responsible for producing one of the most famous plays in ‘Jacks history and his four-point play with just seconds to go in the second round bout with VCU sent the game into overtime and eventually led to SFA’s first NCAA Tournament win.

He amassed 1,159 career points, graduating as the all-time winningest player in SFA history with 97 victories.

Haymon earned numerous honors during his playing career, including 2014 Second Team All-Southland and Second Team NABC All-District, two-time Southland All-Tournament selection, 2013 Honorable Mention All-Southland and was a three-time Southland Conference All-Academic honoree.

Haymon received his bachelor’s degree in kinesiology with a minor in general business in 2014 before earning a master’s degree in interdisciplinary studies in December of 2016.

He and his wife, Chandra, have a son, Desmond, Jr.