Stan Johnson is set to make his debut as Loyola Marymount University’s coach Wednesday as the Lions play host to Southern Utah at Gersten Pavilion to begin the coronavirus-delayed and shortened men’s college basketball season.
Johnson coached at Marquette the past five seasons, the final three as associate head coach. The Golden Eagles reached the NCAA tournament twice when Johnson was a member of their coaching staff and were projected to play in the 2020 tournament, which was canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic.
“LMU made a grand-slam hire,” Marquette coach Steve Wojciechowski said. “Stan is an elite human being, coach and makes everyone he comes in contact with better for that interaction.”
Johnson replaces Mike Dunlap. LMU announced March 8 that the school and Dunlap “agreed to part ways,” two days after the Lions completed an 11-21 season with an 82-53 loss to San Francisco in a second-round game of the West Coast Conference tournament.
LMU was 81-108 in six seasons under Dunlap, including a 22-12 record in the 2018-19 season when it advanced to the semifinals of the College Basketball Invitational.
“I want to create an identity that LMU is a team that is athletic, skilled and disciplined,” Johnson said. “I want people to come and watch LMU and say `Man, those guys compete. They are well-conditioned. They are well-prepared. The best competitors play.’
“I want a team that attacks. I want a team that puts people on their heels. I want a team that when you play Loyola Marymount you might beat us, but even if you beat us, we’re going to break you.”
Johnson said his other goals include having “a team that is selfless, connected and relentless in everything we do on and off the floor.”
Johnson was previously an assistant coach at Arizona State, Drake, Utah and Cal State Northridge. Johnson began his coaching career in 2003 at Bemidji State then coached at another Division II school, Southwest Baptist.
While Johnson has no head coaching experience at any level, he has two former Division I head coaches on his staff, David Carter, who coached Nevada to a 98-97 record from 2009-15, and Allen Edwards, who coached Wyoming to a 60-76 record from 2016-20.
The men’s college basketball season was supposed to start Nov. 10.
The later start was intended to have play begin when at least three-quarters of Division I schools will have concluded their fall terms or moved remaining instruction and exams online, creating a more controlled and less populated campus environment that may reduce the risk of COVID-19 that can occur between athletes and the broader student body population, the Division I Men’s Oversight Committee said.
The later start prompted the maximum number games to be reduced by four. A team can schedule 24 regular-season games and participate in one multiple-team event that includes up to three games; 25 regular-season games and participate in one multiple-team event that includes up to two games; or 25 regular-season games if a team does not participate in a multiple-team event.
“Southern Utah would not have been the opener but we would have played them,” Johnson said. “When the games got reduced by the NCAA, it left a window on the 25th for us. They needed a road game and based on my time there as a player, I decided to play them. This is only a one-game contract. We are not returning the game to Southern Utah.”
The Lions defeated the Thunderbirds, 61-51, last season and are 3-0 all-time against them. Southern Utah was 17-15 last season, the first time since the 2006-07 season it finished the season with a record over .500.
Johnson played three seasons at Southern Utah, where he was a starter and captain in the 2000-01 season when the Thunderbirds advanced to the NCAA tournament for the only time. He played his senior season at Bemidji State.
The Lions return three starters from last season — forward Eli Scott, a preseason All-West Coast Conference selection who led the team scoring, rebounding and assists last season; forward Keli Leaupepe, a WCC All-Freshman Team selection last season; and forward Ivan Alipiev.
LMU also returns three starters from the 2018-19 season who did not play last season — Mattias Markusson, a 7-foot, 3-inch center from Sweden; guard-forward Dameane Douglas; and guard Joe Quintana.
The 5 p.m. game will be streamed on WatchStadium.com and WCCSports.com. Fans will not be allowed at LMU home games this season because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Johnson is the Lions’ ninth coach since their most recent NCAA tournament appearance, when they advanced to the Elite Eight in 1990 with a fast-breaking team that captivated fans throughout the nation with its play following the death of Hank Gathers, LMU’s career scoring leader.
“As the caretaker of this program, I’m beyond thankful to all our former players and coaches for all the effort they’ve poured into LMU basketball over the years,” Johnson said.
“We stand on their shoulders as we advance LMU to higher heights,” he said. “I’m most excited by the opportunity to connect, coach and develop our current and future players, in order to create a program that our fans, university and community can all be proud of. We have a tremendous opportunity, in one of the best leagues in America, to do something special. I’m excited to attack that challenge together.”