(AP Photo/Tony Dejak)AP
Syracuse, N.Y. ― After moving to the NBA last season as an assistant coach with the Phoenix Suns, Mike Hopkins is set to begin a second year in the NBA with a new team.
Hopkins, the former Syracuse University player and assistant coach, has joined the New Orleans Pelicans as an assistant coach and head of player development.
The Pelicans announced Hopkins’ hiring on Monday.
Hopkins played at Syracuse from 1988 to 1993. He was an assistant on Jim Boeheim’s coaching staff at Syracuse from 1995 to 2017. Although he had been designated as Boeheim’s eventual successor, Hopkins left Syracuse after the 2016-17 to take the head coaching job at the University of Washington.
In seven seasons at Washington, Hopkins compiled a 118-106 record, including two NCAA tournament appearances. He was let go after the 2023-24 season.
Hopkins spent last year as an assistant with the Phoenix Suns. The Suns parted ways with head coach Mike Budenholzer after the season.
Hopkins will join another former Syracuse assistant coach in New Orleans. Troy Weaver became the Pelicans’ senior vice president of basketball operations in April.
Hopkins and Weaver were both assistants at Syracuse when the Orange won the 2003 NCAA title. The 2003 championship game was played in New Orleans.
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