Oct. 13, 2008
SAN DIEGO - Former San Diego State men's basketball guard Tony Bland has rejoined the program as head manager. Bland, one of 22 players in school history to score 1,000 career points, is currently a full-time student at the University and is in the process of finishing course work to earn his degree.
"We are very excited that one of the young men that help jump start the San Diego State basketball program is back," head coach Steve Fisher said. "He will be involved in the program in a variety of ways as he is a full-time student finishing his degree. I think all of us that know him are excited that he is back on campus with the basketball team."
"I am grateful to be back and to have the opportunity to work under Coach Fisher and learn a lot of things on the coaching side," Bland said. "To me, it's the best program in the world and I look forward to getting started."
Bland, who was a two-year Aztec letterwinner in 2002 and 2003, transferred to SDSU after playing in 64 games, while making 33 starts in two seasons at Syracuse. In all four of his collegiate seasons, his teams posted winning records and made the postseason. In addition, Bland-led teams won 21 or more games and advanced to the NCAA Tournament three different times.
As a two guard who could play the point, Bland had one of the best mid-range games in college basketball while playing for two national championship coaches in Syracuse's Jim Boeheim and Steve Fisher.
In 2001-02, Bland's first season at SDSU, he became the first player in MWC history to rank in the league's top 10 in scoring and assists and top 20 in rebounding in the same season. That same year, Bland helped the Aztecs advance to the NCAA Tournament, SDSU's first appearance in the tourney since 1985. The following season, Bland guided San Diego State to the NIT where it recorded the school's first Division I postseason victory and an appearance in the second round.
Bland ended his college career with 1,368 points, 331 rebounds, 319 assists and 127 steals in 127 career games (95 starts). While at SDSU, he played in all 63 games and made 62 starts. During his time at San Diego State, the Aztecs went 37-26 and appeared in consecutive postseason tournaments for the second time in the school's Division I history.
In two seasons at SDSU, Bland led the Aztecs in points 27 times, rebounds seven times and assists 26 times. He had 56 double-figure scoring games at SDSU (70 career, counting 14 at Syracuse), while ranking 18th in scoring (1,012, most among two-year players), seventh in career scoring average (16.1) and ninth in minutes played since the 1978-79 season (2,182) upon completion of his eligibility.
Following his collegiate career, Bland earned an invitation to take part in the Indiana Pacers training camp before playing in the United States Basketball League (USBL) where he played for former NBA player John Starks. During his stint in the USBL, Bland averaged 18.7 points, 5.1 rebounds and 5.7 assists en route to earning the league's Rookie of the Year award. From there, Bland participated in the Sacramento Kings' training camp in the fall of 2004 before signing a contract with the team. Folowing his stay with Sacramento, Bland played in Russia before moving on to the NBDL's Albuquerque Thunderbirds, where he played for two seasons for former NBA player Michael Cooper and won a championship in 2005-06. Shortly thereafter, Bland went overseas to play in Europe before returning to Montezuma Mesa.