2008-09 Vandals - University of Idaho Athletics

coaching staff
Ray
Lopes
Assistant Coach
First Season
College of Idaho 1987
Ray Lopes joined the University of Idaho men’s basketball program as an
assistant coach in 2008.
“I can’t express how excited I am for Ray Lopes to be joining our Vandal
family,” Idaho coach Don Verlin said. “His résumé and experience speak for
themselves.”
Lopes’ résumé shows success at multiple levels of coaching and includes a
Western Athletic Conference regular-season title with Fresno State in 2003 and an
NBA D League Championship with the Idaho Stampede last season.
“I am very grateful and appreciative to both coach Verlin and (Idaho Director
of Athletics) Dr. (Rob) Spear for providing me this opportunity to get back into
the college game and to join the Vandal family,” Lopes said. “I am excited to
join coach Verlin’s staff and look forward to being a part of a very bright future in
Idaho basketball. This is a great opportunity for me and my family.”
Lopes spent the past two years as associate head coach of the Idaho Stampede
at Boise. The team finished 36-14 last season on its way to the 2007-08 NBA D
League Championship. During the 2006-07 season, the Stampede tied for the
best record in the league at 33-17.
Lopes spent the previous season as a personnel scout for the San Antonio
Spurs. Prior to his NBA experience, he was head coach at Fresno State University,
compiling a cumulative 50-37 record over three seasons. He was named WAC
Coach of the Year and CBS Sportsline Rookie Coach of the Year in 2003.
Prior to his stint at Fresno, Lopes spent eight seasons as an assistant coach
at the University of Oklahoma under then-coach Kelvin Sampson. He helped the
Sooners to eight consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, plus a trip to the
Sweet 16 in 1999 and the 2002 Final Four. While at Oklahoma, the Sooners won
at least 20 games five seasons in a row, averaging 26 wins per year, including a
31-5 record in 2001-02. The Sooners had a 187-74 record while Lopes was an
assistant coach and won the 2001 and 2002 Big 12 Tournament title. Oklahoma
was no worse than a No. 4 seed in the NCAA Tournament over his last three
years.
Lopes also served as an assistant coach under Sampson for one season at
Washington State, where he helped the Cougars to a 20-11 record and a berth
in the NCAA Tournament. He joined the Washington State staff after a four-year
stint as an assistant at UC Santa Barbara from 1989-93 under head coach Jerry
Pimm. The Gauchos posted a 73-44 record and advanced to three postseason
tournaments. In 1990, UC Santa Barbara advanced to the second round of the
NCAA Southeast Regional before losing to the Steve Smith-led Michigan State
Spartans. That year, the Gauchos knocked off Jerry Tarkanian’s great UNLV team
that won 34 consecutive games and the NCAA title.
Lopes and his wife, Pierrette, have two daughters, Alaina and Teylor, and a
son, Trey.
Coaching experience
2006-2008
Idaho Stampede
2005-06
San Antonio Spurs
2002-2005
Fresno State
1994-2002
Oklahoma
1993-1994
Washington State
1989-1993
UC Santa Barbara
Education
1987
College of Idaho
1980
Moreau High School
Assistant Coach
Personnel Scout
Head Coach
Assistant Coach
Assistant Coach
Assistant Coach
Bachelor’s (Business Administration)
PERSONAL
Birthdate Dec. 8, 1962
Hometown
Hartford, Conn.
Wife
Pierrette
Children Alaina (17), Teylor (14) and Trey (9)
2008-09 Idaho Vandal Basketball 23