Luke Loucks is only entering his second season as Florida State basketball’s head coach, but the first branches of his coaching tree are already beginning to take shape.
During an interview with Voice of the Seminoles Jeff Culhane on the FSU Seminoles Unconquered App, Loucks reflected on the number of staff members who have earned new opportunities since his first season in Tallahassee and what he sees as his responsibility in helping young coaches prepare for the next step.
Several members of FSU’s 2025-26 staff have moved into assistant coaching positions. Former graduate assistant Jabril Durham is now on Joey Cantens’ staff at FIU, while former director of basketball operations Perin Foote joined North Alabama as an assistant. Ryan Shnider,
previously FSU’s assistant director of basketball operations, accepted an assistant coaching position at Eckerd College.
The biggest move came recently when former FSU assistant and director of player development Chris Kent was named head coach of the Austin Spurs, the San Antonio Spurs’ NBA G League affiliate. Kent became the franchise’s 12th head coach after spending the 2025-26 season with Loucks at Florida State.
“Chris couldn’t be more deserving,” Loucks said. “He is absolutely ready to be a head coach.”
Loucks said watching staffers advance has made him think more about the mentors who helped prepare him for his own opportunity. He specifically credited Steve Kerr and Mike Brown with assisting his development during his NBA coaching career and said he now feels an obligation to do the same for coaches working under him.
“You’re never really ready,” Loucks said of becoming a head coach, “but when you get in that seat, you have some influence, you’re prepared for what’s to come your way.” The movement has also created opportunities within Loucks’ current staff.
Kyle Washington and Justin Lindner have been elevated to full-time assistant coaching roles, with Lindner also overseeing player development. Florida State also hired Sam Logwood as its director of video and scouting after previous stops with Oregon, Cal State Bakersfield and the Sacramento Kings.
When Culhane suggested the “Luke Loucks tree” was beginning to grow, the 36-year-old coach was not quite ready to embrace the description.
“It’s scary,” Loucks joked. “It’s just a small bush, a weed really.”
Then came the qualifier.
“It’ll grow. It’ll grow.”
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This article originally appeared on FSU Wire: FSU basketball coach discusses staff changes and coaching tree
