Steve Lavin

Steve Lavin begins his third season in the broadcast booth as a color commentator for Fox Sports and the Pac 12 Networks. During his time with ABC and ESPN College Basketball as an Analyst, particularly in the 2005-06 season, Lavin worked alongside broadcasting legend Brent Musburger. He shares his coaching perspective, which spans over 28 years, including significant experience at the collegiate level, particularly with UCLA and St. John's University.

Lavin's coaching career, which includes time at UCLA and Purdue University, is marked by a record of 145-78 as UCLA Head Basketball Coach from 1996-2003. In his first season as head coach, Lavin led the Bruins to the 1997 Pac-10 Championship and an NCAA Elite Eight appearance. His teams at UCLA and later at St. John's achieved ten postseason appearances, which included reaching five NCAA Regional Semifinals and securing eight NCAA Tournament berths. Under his guidance, both UCLA and St. John's signed top-ranked recruiting classes, bringing heightened performances to the programs. Notably, Lavin has coached fourteen student athletes who were drafted into the NBA.

Through his tenure, Lavin earned recognition such as the Pacific-10 Coach of the Year in 2001. He remains the only head coach in NCAA Men’s Basketball history to lead his team to victory over the No. 1 team in the country in four consecutive collegiate seasons. His effective recruitment strategies led to signing seven McDonald's High School All-Americans and securing the No. 1 rated recruiting class in the nation in both 1998 and 2001.

In 2003, after a difficult season, Lavin was relieved of his duties at UCLA but swiftly transitioned into broadcasting with a multi-year contract with ESPN and ABC. On March 30, 2010, he returned to coaching as the head coach for St. John’s University. However, his coaching stint at St. John's was interrupted in 2011-12 when he took a break for cancer treatment, demonstrating resilience and commitment to his health and professional endeavors.

Lavin's contributions to sports and education extend beyond coaching and commentary. He received the 1997 International Inspiration Award from the Hugh O’Brien Youth Foundation and continues to serve on the Board of Governors at his alma mater, Chapman University, where he was honored with the 2005 Distinguished Alumni award. Lavin is also a sought-after speaker, addressing topics such as effective communication, motivation, and leadership, leveraging his extensive experience in collegiate basketball and team management.