Homegrown NBA star Quincy Pondexter will not be the next head coach of Fresno State men’s basketball.
Pondexter has not been granted an interview with the university, he announced over the weekend, because he has not coached either collegiate or professional basketball for five years.
The backstory: Pondexter, a Fresno native and graduate of San Joaquin Memorial High School, has been speculated for the job ever since former head coach Justin Hutson was let go a few weeks ago.
- Although Pondexter played college basketball at Washington and has served as an assistant coach for the Huskies since 2021, he still lives in Fresno during the offseason.
- It is unclear if Pondexter will return to Washington, since head coach Mike Hopkins was fired after last month.
Driving the news: Last week fellow Fresno native and 2017 US Open champion Sloane Stephens called for Fresno State to hire Pondexter, saying she would donate $200,000 to the program if he is the pick.
- Pondexter told former KSEE 24 broadcaster Alexan Balekian on March 23 that he applied for the job.
The big picture: While Pondexter would like to remain in Fresno year-round and lead the program he grew up rooting for, the job application lists a required minimum of five years experience as a coach.
What they’re saying: “I love Fresno and Fresno State, and I would love the opportunity to make my case to be the Bulldogs’ next head coach,” Pondexter said in a statement to Nexstar. “But unfortunately, I was not granted an interview, due to the fact there is a minimum requirement of 5 years NCAA coaching experience (I currently have three years). I wish Fresno State basketball great success in the future.”
