 Theus in 2008 | |
| Bethune-Cookman Wildcats | |
|---|---|
| Position | Head coach / Athletic director |
| League | Southwestern Athletic Conference |
| Personal information | |
| Born | (1957-10-13)October 13, 1957 (age 67) Inglewood, California, U.S. |
| Listed height | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) |
| Listed weight | 190 lb (86 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Inglewood (Inglewood, California) |
| College | UNLV (1975–1978) |
| NBA draft | 1978: 1st round, 9th overall pick |
| Selected by theChicago Bulls | |
| Playing career | 1978–1993 |
| Position | Shooting guard /point guard |
| Number | 24 |
| Career history | |
| As player: | |
| 1978–1984 | Chicago Bulls |
| 1984–1988 | Kansas City / Sacramento Kings |
| 1988–1989 | Atlanta Hawks |
| 1989–1990 | Orlando Magic |
| 1990–1991 | New Jersey Nets |
| 1991–1992 | Ranger Varese |
| 1993 | Aris |
| As coach: | |
| 2002 | Las Vegas Slam |
| 2003–2005 | Louisville (assistant) |
| 2005–2007 | New Mexico State |
| 2007–2008 | Sacramento Kings |
| 2009–2011 | Minnesota Timberwolves (assistant) |
| 2012–2013 | Los Angeles D-Fenders |
| 2013–2018 | Cal State Northridge |
| 2021–present | Bethune–Cookman |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
| Career NBA statistics | |
| Points | 19,015 (18.5 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 3,349 (3.3 rpg) |
| Assists | 6,453 (6.3 apg) |
Stats at NBA.com  | |
| Stats atBasketball Reference | |
Reginald Wayne Theus (born October 13, 1957) is an Americanbasketball coach and former player. He played 13 seasons in theNational Basketball Association (NBA), where he was a two-timeNBA All-Star. He is currently themen's basketball head coach and athletic director atBethune–Cookman.[1][2] He was the head coach for the NBA'sSacramento Kings and in college with theNew Mexico State Aggies and theCal State Northridge Matadors men's teams. He was also an assistant coach for theLouisville Cardinals underRick Pitino.
Theus was one of four children of Felix and Willie Mae Theus. His parents divorced when he was four. His father had a janitorial business and died before Reggie's senior year in high school. For a brief period, Reggie ran his father's business after his death.[3] Theus attendedInglewood High School inInglewood, California. Growing up, he also attended Monroe Middle School in Inglewood. As a senior at Inglewood, Theus averaged 28.6 points and 15.5 rebounds per game.[4]
Theus played college basketball atUNLV for head coachJerry Tarkanian from 1976 to 1978. In three seasons with the Runnin' Rebels, Theus averaged 12.9 points, 4.4 assists and 4.3 rebounds per game. Theus, who became one of the best players to ever don a UNLV uniform, shot 81 percent from the free-throw line for his career while amassing 1,177 career points (21st on all-time scoring list), 401 career assists and 389 career rebounds in just 91 collegiate games.[5]
As a sophomore, Theus helped lead UNLV into the national spotlight as the Rebels went 29–3, advancing to the school's first Final Four inAtlanta. Despite losing by a single point toUniversity of North Carolina in the semifinals,UNLV defeatedUNC-Charlotte in the third-place game and set NCAA single-season records for most points in a season (3,426), most 100-point games (23) and most consecutive 100-point games (12). He averaged 14.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game while shooting 81.8 percent from the free-throw line and 49.7 percent from the field as a sophomore.
As a junior, Reggie was named a second team All-American after averaging 18.9 points, 6.8 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game.[5]
In 1989, Theus was inducted into the UNLV Athletic Hall of Fame and in 1997 he became one of only eight players in school history to have his jersey retired by the Rebels.[6]
After attendingUNLV and having a successful college career, Theus was selected by theChicago Bulls with the 9th pick of the1978 NBA draft.
A 6'7" guard, Theus averaged 16.3 points per game during his first season and was the runner-up for the1979NBA Rookie of the Year Award. He was second on the team in scoring behindArtis Gilmore, a futureNaismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductee. Paired in the backcourt with fellow UNLV alumnusRicky Sobers, Theus followed his rookie campaign with a sophomore season in which he averaged 20.2 points and 6.3assists for the 1979–1980 Bulls.[7]
He garnered the nickname "Rush Street Reggie" while playing in Chicago for owning an apartment on that street and having an active social life around that area, being frequently spotted at the city night spots.[8]
In1981, Theus appeared in his firstAll-Star Game as the Bulls were 45–37 and made the1981 NBA Playoffs. The Bulls won their first round series, defeating theNew York Knicks 2 games to 0, with Theus scoring 37 points with 11 assists in the 115–114 Bulls win in the final game.[9] The Bulls faced theBoston Celtics in the next round and were swept 4–0 as the Celtics went on to win theNBA Championship. Theus was the leading scorer in game 3 with 26 points, and he averaged 19.8 points and 6.3 assists over the six playoff games.[10]
In1982–1983, Theus averaged a career high 23.8 points per game as the Bulls leading scorer, but the Bulls finished 28–54.[7][11]
Newly hired Bulls coachKevin Loughery decided to bench Theus for the first half of the1983–1984 season.[12] On February 14, 1984, Theus was traded to theKansas City Kings forSteve Johnson and three second round draft picks, a move that saddened many Chicago fans who enjoyed Theus' enthusiasm and energy; however, this indirectly freed up a spot for a shooting guard on the Bulls, part of a series of events that eventually led to their drafting ofMichael Jordan that off-season. The Bulls finished 27–55.[13][12] Theus played for five coaches in five and a half seasons in Chicago:Jerry Sloan (1979–1982),Phil Johnson (1982), Rod Thorn (1982),Paul Westhead (1982–1983), andKevin Loughery (1983–1984) .[8][14]
Theus averaged 18.8 points and 5.6 assists in 441 games in Chicago.[7]
Theus continued his impressive play with theKansas City Kings and Kansas City won 12 of their first 17 games after Theus joined the team.[15] He averaged 16.4 points and 8.0 assists in 30 games with the Kings, as the Kings qualified for the playoffs under Coach Phil Johnson, who had coached Theus in Chicago in 1982.[16]
In the 1984–85 season, the Kings moved toSacramento, California. In the 1985–86 season, Theus averaged 18.3 points and a career high 9.6 assists as the Kings made the playoffs again, losing to theHakeem Olajuwon andRalph Sampson and theHouston Rockets 3–0 in the first round, as Theus averaged 15.0 points and 6.3 assists in the series.[17]
Over his four seasons with the Kings, Theus became a key scorer and distributor, averaging 18.8 points and 8.1 assists in 346 games with the Kings.[7]
On June 27, 1988, Theus was traded by the Kings to theAtlanta Hawks with a third round pick forRandy Wittman and a first round pick.[7] He averaged 15.8 points and 4.7 assists for the Hawks in 1988–89, playing in the backcourt withDoc Rivers and alongside Hall of FamersDominique Wilkins andMoses Malone. Theus helped the Hawks go 52–30 and advance to the playoffs.[18]
On June 15, 1989, the expansionOrlando Magic, picked him from the Hawks in theexpansion draft. The expansion Magic struggled, finishing 18–64. Theus averaged 18.9 points and 5.4 assists with the Magic.[19][18]
TheNew Jersey Nets traded a second round pick to acquire Theus on June 25, 1990. In 1990–1991 he averaged a team-leading 18.6 points along with 4.7 assists for the 26–56 Nets. Theus' NBA career ended after his Nets season.[20]
Theus had career totals of 19,015 points and 6,453 assists, averaging 18.5 and 6.3 in 1026 NBA games.
He played one season inItaly forRanger Varese before retiring from basketball altogether in 1992. He also played along withAris in theGreek Cup Final in 1993.[7] In that game he scored 9 points.
Theus is one of only two players in league history listed at 6 ft 6 or taller to tally more than 750 assists in an NBA season (788 in 1985–86), the other player is NBA legendMagic Johnson.[21]
In 2005, Theus was hired by theNew Mexico State Aggies as the head coach of the men's basketball team after the retirement of head coachLou Henson. In his first season, Theus turned the Aggies from a 6–24 squad in 2004–05 to a 16–14 team in the 2005–06 season – matching the fifth best turn-around for a Division-I men's basketball team. In his second year as head coach, Theus led NMSU to their 17th NCAA tournament, their first tournament appearance since 1999, and coached NMSU to its 14th conference tournament title which earned them an automatic bid into the NCAA tournament.
Theus was named the head coach ofCalifornia State University Northridge in 2013. In his first season with the Matadors he led them to a 17–18 record, but managed to reach theBig West Conference Finals, where they lost toCal Poly San Luis Obispo. On March 6, 2018, Cal State Northridge parted ways with Theus after a 44–107 record.[22]
On July 7, 2021, Theus was named head men's basketball coach and athletic director at Bethune–Cookman.[1]
On June 19, 2007, Theus was hired by theMaloof brothers and guaranteed three years as head coach of theSacramento Kings. He noted his hiring as coach had brought his career to "full circle", as he once played in the NBA with the Kings.Marvin Menzies succeeded him as head coach at New Mexico State. On December 15, 2008, Theus was fired by the Kings and the team announced that their assistant coachKenny Natt would lead the team in the interim period. Theus was an assistant coach with theMinnesota Timberwolves under head coachKurt Rambis from 2009 to 2011.[23]
Theus became the head coach of theLos Angeles D-Fenders of theNBA D-League in October 2012.[24][25]
Theus hosted various talk shows inSacramento,Orlando andAtlanta.
For several years Theus served as a studio analyst forTurner Sports and theLos Angeles Lakers.
Theus was one of the original panelists onThe Best Damn Sports Show Period.
Theus portrayed a high school basketball coach named Bill Fuller in the TNBC Saturday morning sitcomHang Time from 1995 to 1997.[28]
Theus did in-game color commentary and was the pre-game co-host for "SlamBall" for the 2002 season.
Theus provided the commentary for the video gameNBA Live 2000
Theus made cameos in the filmsBook of Love,Forget Paris andLike Mike.[28]
Theus calledPac-12 basketball withBarry Tompkins onFox Sports Net.
Theus is married to Elaine. They have three children: Raquel (Roqui for short); Reginald.; and Rhyan.[citation needed]
Theus has a son, baseball playerBrennen Davis, with Jakki Davis-Dollak, a long-jumper at the University of Washington. Davis says that Theus is "not a part of [his] life."[29]
| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
| FG% | Field goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field goal percentage | FT% | Free throw percentage |
| RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
| BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1978–79 | Chicago | 82 | – | 33.6 | .480 | – | .761 | 2.8 | 5.2 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 16.3 |
| 1979–80 | Chicago | 82 | – | 36.9 | .483 | .267 | .838 | 4.0 | 6.3 | 1.4 | 0.2 | 20.2 |
| 1980–81 | Chicago | 82 | – | 34.4 | .495 | .200 | .809 | 3.5 | 5.2 | 1.5 | 0.2 | 18.9 |
| 1981–82 | Chicago | 82 | 82 | 34.6 | .469 | .250 | .808 | 3.8 | 5.8 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 18.4 |
| 1982–83 | Chicago | 82 | 81 | 34.8 | .478 | .231 | .801 | 3.7 | 5.9 | 1.7 | 0.2 | 23.8 |
| 1983–84 | Chicago | 31 | 5 | 19.4 | .388 | .200 | .778 | 1.5 | 4.6 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 8.7 |
| 1983–84 | Kansas City | 30 | 30 | 29.9 | .438 | .148 | .751 | 2.8 | 7.0 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 15.8 |
| 1984–85 | Kansas City | 82 | 80 | 31.0 | .487 | .132 | .863 | 3.3 | 8.0 | 1.2 | 0.2 | 16.4 |
| 1985–86 | Sacramento | 82 | 82 | 35.6 | .480 | .171 | .827 | 3.7 | 9.6 | 1.4 | 0.2 | 18.3 |
| 1986–87 | Sacramento | 79 | 76 | 36.4 | .472 | .218 | .867 | 3.4 | 8.8 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 20.3 |
| 1987–88 | Sacramento | 73 | 73 | 36.3 | .470 | .271 | .831 | 3.2 | 6.3 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 21.6 |
| 1988–89 | Atlanta | 82 | 82 | 30.7 | .466 | .293 | .851 | 3.0 | 4.7 | 1.3 | 0.2 | 15.8 |
| 1989–90 | Orlando | 76 | 71 | 30.9 | .439 | .248 | .853 | 2.9 | 5.4 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 18.9 |
| 1990–91 | New Jersey | 81 | 81 | 36.5 | .468 | .361 | .851 | 2.8 | 4.7 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 18.6 |
| Career | 1,026 | 743 | 33.7 | .471 | .252 | .826 | 3.3 | 6.3 | 1.2 | 0.2 | 18.5 | |
| All-Star | 2 | 1 | 13.5 | .333 | – | – | 1.0 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 4.0 | |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Chicago | 6 | – | 38.7 | .444 | .222 | .860 | 3.5 | 6.3 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 19.8 |
| 1984 | Kansas City | 3 | – | 27.0 | .395 | .000 | .900 | 3.7 | 5.3 | 1.7 | 0.0 | 14.3 |
| 1986 | Sacramento | 3 | 3 | 34.0 | .391 | .000 | .750 | 2.7 | 6.3 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 15.0 |
| 1989 | Atlanta | 5 | 5 | 25.4 | .368 | .000 | .750 | 1.4 | 4.8 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 7.4 |
| Career | 17 | 8 | 31.9 | .410 | .133 | .831 | 2.8 | 5.7 | 1.1 | 0.1 | 14.4 | |
| Season | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Postseason | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Mexico State Aggies(Western Athletic Conference)(2005–2007) | |||||||||
| 2005–06 | New Mexico State | 16–14 | 10–6 | T–4th | |||||
| 2006–07 | New Mexico State | 25–9 | 11–5 | 2nd | NCAA Division I First round | ||||
| New Mexico State: | 41–23 (.641) | 21–11 (.656) | |||||||
| Cal State Northridge Matadors(Big West Conference)(2013–2018) | |||||||||
| 2013–14 | Cal State Northridge | 17–18 | 7–9 | 5th | |||||
| 2014–15 | Cal State Northridge | 9–24 | 4–12 | 8th | |||||
| 2015–16 | Cal State Northridge | 10–20 | 5–11 | T–6th | |||||
| 2016–17 | Cal State Northridge | 11–19 | 7–9 | 6th | |||||
| 2017–18 | Cal State Northridge | 6–24 | 3–13 | 9th | |||||
| Cal State Northridge: | 53–105 (.335) | 26–54 (.325) | |||||||
| Bethune–Cookman Wildcats(SWAC)(2021–present) | |||||||||
| 2021–22 | Bethune–Cookman | 9–21 | 7–11 | 10th | |||||
| 2022–23 | Bethune–Cookman | 12–20 | 8–10 | 7th | |||||
| 2023–24 | Bethune–Cookman | 17–17 | 11–7 | 5th | CBI First Round | ||||
| 2024–25 | Bethune–Cookman | 17–16 | 13–5 | 3rd | |||||
| Bethune-Cookman: | 55–74 (.426) | 39–33 (.542) | |||||||
| Total: | 149–202 (.425) | ||||||||
National champion Postseason invitational champion | |||||||||
| Regular season | G | Games coached | W | Games won | L | Games lost | W–L % | Win–loss % |
| Playoffs | PG | Playoff games | PW | Playoff wins | PL | Playoff losses | PW–L % | Playoff win–loss % |
| Team | Year | G | W | L | W–L% | Finish | PG | PW | PL | PW–L% | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sacramento | 2007–08 | 82 | 38 | 44 | .463 | 4th in Pacific | — | — | — | — | Missed Playoffs |
| Sacramento | 2008–09 | 24 | 6 | 18 | .250 | (fired) | — | — | — | — | — |
| Career | 106 | 44 | 62 | .415 | — | — | — | — | |||
| Team | Year | G | W | L | W–L% | Finish | PG | PW | PL | PW–L% | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | 2012–13 | 50 | 21 | 29 | .420 | 3rd in West | — | — | — | — | Missed Playoffs |
| Career | 50 | 21 | 29 | .420 | — | — | — | — |