There are assistant coaching hires that feel procedural, and then there are hires that immediately grab the attention of college basketball fans who remember a different era of the sport. Sam Dekker returning to college basketball absolutely falls into the second category.
The former Wisconsin star, one of the defining players of the Badgers’ unforgettable back-to-back Final Four runs under Bo Ryan, is officially joining Lamont Paris’ staff at South Carolina as an assistant coach focused on player development. For longtime fans of the sport, it feels like another important connection between one of college basketball’s great modern teams and the next generation of players trying to break through in the SEC.
And honestly, it makes a lot of sense.
Lamont Paris and Sam Dekker are reuniting where it all started
Before Lamont Paris became one of the SEC’s most respected head coaches, he was helping build Wisconsin into a national powerhouse. He recruited and developed Dekker during some of the best years in Badgers basketball history, so this is not some random former player hire made for nostalgia.
There’s real history here.
Dekker was one of the faces of Wisconsin’s rise during the mid-2010s, helping lead the Badgers to the 2014 Final Four before powering another legendary run in 2015 that ended in the national championship game against Duke. His Elite Eight performance against Arizona remains one of the most memorable NCAA Tournament moments from that decade.
Now he returns to the college game after 11 professional seasons around the world.
South Carolina head coach Lamont Paris made it clear the hire is about development and experience.
“Development of each player’s individual abilities is as important now as it has ever been in college basketball,” Paris said. “Sam’s unique experiences and skill set will allow him to have a tremendous impact on our players and program immediately.”
That line matters in modern college basketball.
With roster turnover happening constantly because of the transfer portal and NIL movement, programs need coaches who can quickly connect with players and help them improve immediately. Dekker’s background gives him credibility almost instantly.
Sam Dekker brings more than just Wisconsin nostalgia
It would be easy to frame this solely around nostalgia because college basketball fans absolutely remember Dekker’s tournament heroics.
But the bigger story is everything he has experienced since leaving Wisconsin.
Dekker played in the NBA with the Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Clippers, Cleveland Cavaliers, Washington Wizards, and Toronto Raptors after being selected 18th overall in the 2015 NBA Draft. Injuries kept him from fully settling into a long-term NBA role, but his career evolved into something even more interesting overseas.
He became a highly successful international player, winning championships and earning individual honors throughout Europe while adapting to different systems, coaching styles, and basketball philosophies.
That matters for coaching.
Players today want someone who understands both the college game and the professional pathway that follows it. Dekker has lived virtually every version of that experience. He knows what it means to thrive in March, handle NBA expectations, battle injuries, and reinvent himself professionally overseas.
That perspective can resonate in a locker room.
South Carolina is trying to rediscover its momentum
This hire also comes at an important time for the Gamecocks.
Paris won SEC Coach of the Year honors in 2024 after orchestrating one of the biggest turnarounds in the country, but South Carolina has struggled to maintain that same momentum over the last two seasons. Adding Dekker feels like an attempt to inject fresh energy and another strong basketball mind into the program.
It also doesn’t hurt that Dekker’s personality naturally fits college basketball culture.
He understands fanbases. He understands expectations. He understands what winning basketball is supposed to look and feel like.
And in an era where coaching staffs are becoming increasingly important for roster retention and player relationships, having someone with Dekker’s background could become a real recruiting asset as well.
The move may look surprising on the surface because fans still associate Dekker with his playing days, but the transition actually feels incredibly natural.
Some players leave college basketball behind.
Others eventually find their way back to it.
Dekker always felt like someone who would return eventually. South Carolina just happened to land him first.
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