Talvin Hester joins LA Tech men’s basketball coaching staff

RUSTON – Louisiana Tech men’s basketball head coach Eric Konkol announced on Wednesday the addition of Talvin Hester as an assistant coach on the Bulldog staff.

Hester brings 16 years of coaching experience to LA Tech with the majority of that coming from the state of Texas where he worked for eight different programs at the college and professional level. Most recently, he spent one season as an assistant coach at Oral Roberts.

“Talvin Hester is an experienced and respected coach with a relentless work ethic,” Konkol said. “He has worked for tremendous coaches and has great relationships in our region. Our student-athletes will benefit from his attention to detail and genuine interest in their development on and off the floor. We are very happy to welcome Talvin, his wife, Jamieka, and daughter, Rhyan, to the Louisiana Tech family.”

While at Oral Roberts for the 2017-18 season, Hester joined new head coach Paul Mills to help the Golden Eagles finish in a tie for fifth in the Summit League, improving two spots from the preseason poll.

ORU ending up having four players earn postseason honors, including a pair of specialty awards for each of the two seniors on the squad – Austin Ruder was named the league’s Transfer of the Year while Albert Owens was tabbed as the Sixth Man of the Year.

“I am truly excited about the opportunity to join the community of Ruston, the LA Tech Family and specifically coach Konkol’s staff,” Hester said. “I look forward to helping continue to build upon the winning foundation that coach Konkol and his staff have laid.”

Prior to coaching the Golden Eagles, Hester joined new head Kelvin Sampson at Houston where he spent three seasons helping turnaround the Cougars program.

UH ended up having a nine-win improvement from the 2014-15 to the 2015-16 season, posting 22 victories for the first time in eight years, while finishing second in the American Athletic Conference and earning an NIT appearance which was their first postseason action since 2013.

The Cougars followed that up with a 21-win season in 2016-17, a third place finish in the AAC and another trip to the NIT. While at Houston, Hester coached four All-AAC selections including Rob Gray and Damyean Dotson who became the first duo in the program’s history to be selected first team in the same season since 1990.

Hester also assisted in the Cougars’ off-court work, serving Thanksgiving meals to Star of Hope Mission residents and leading a Texas Special Olympics event.

Hester spent one season apiece as an assistant coach at Texas State (2013-14) and Stephen F. Austin (2012-13). While with the Lumberjacks, the team posted a 27-5 overall record, claimed the Southland Conference regular season title and earned a berth into the NIT.

His first coaching experience outside the Lone Star State came at San Jose State from 2010-12. In his first year with the Spartans, they earned the first postseason bid for SJSU since 1996 (CBI) and a 17-16 record with the 17 wins being the most since the 1980-81 season.

Prior to heading to California, he spent five seasons at Prairie View A&M (2005-10) where he was eventually promoted to the position of associate head coach. He helped the Panthers to winning records in both the 2008-09 and 2009-10 season, the first time registering back-to-back winning seasons in decades.

Hester broke into coaching in 2002 at North Lake College in Irving, Texas. He also spent one year at his alma mater Texas Wesleyan.

His coaching resume also includes a stop with the Texas Rim Rockers of the United States Basketball League as an assistant coaching intern and the Dallas Mustangs AAU team for one season. He was an assistant coach at Texas College in Tyler, Texas for the 2004-05 season before going to Prairie View A&M.

As a student-athlete, Hester competed at Dallas Christian College during the 1996-97 season. He received his bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies from Texas Wesleyan in 2003.

He is married to the former Jamieka Jackson and they are the parents of a daughter, Rhyan.

The hiring of Talvin Hester is subject to final approval from the University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors.