Justin Hutson, who has over 20 years of DI college coaching experience, will serve as the program’s assistant coach and scouting specialist.
This is Hutson’s third stint on The Mesa. He was an assistant coach with the men’s program from 2006-11 and then again from 2013-18. Hutson spent the last six years as the head coach of the Fresno State men’s basketball team.
At Fresno State, Hutson led the Bulldogs to 20 or more wins twice and guided them to the 2022 Basketball Classic Championship. In his first year in the Valley (2018-19), the Bulldogs won 23 games, and he was named the Joe B. Hall National Coach of the Year, the national award presented annually to the top first-time head coach in DI.
During his time at San Diego State, Hutson helped elevate the Aztecs to the national program it has become. In his first five seasons (2006-11), SDSU won three Mountain West titles and earned postseason berths in each of those campaigns. In 2010-11, San Diego State won both the regular-season and tournament titles, and advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament before finishing with a school-record 34 victories. SDSU ended the year ranked No. 6/11 nationally.
In both of his previous stints at San Diego State, Hutson played a pivotal part in SDSU’s recruiting efforts as the team’s recruiting coordinator. He was the point person in recruiting future All-Americans and NBA Draft picks Kawhi Leonard, Jamaal Franklin and Xavier Thames, while also helping land D.J. Gay, who left SDSU as the school’s all-time leader in career wins, and Chase Tapley, who was a four-year starter.
SDSU’s defensive numbers also improved to an elite level when he decided to rejoin the Aztec coaching staff. As the defensive coordinator, San Diego State finished in the top 15 nationally in both scoring defense and field-goal percentage defense in his first four seasons back. San Diego State finished second in scoring defense in 2014 and 2015, third in 2016 and 15th in 2017. As far as field-goal percentage defense, the Aztecs were eighth in 2014, seventh in 2015, first in 2016 and eighth in 2017.
In his two years at UNLV, Hutson helped coach the Rebels to a pair of 25-win seasons and two NCAA appearances. He played a key role in helping UNLV bring in a highly regarded incoming class in 2012-13, which included the 2013 No. 1 overall NBA Draft selection, Anthony Bennett, a player Hutson recruited.
Hutson also was an assistant coach at Cal Poly (2004-06) and his alma mater Cal State Bakersfield (1998-2000). In between those stints, he was the head coach at Bakersfield High School where he helped them win a CIF Central Section title and make the playoffs all four years.
As a collegiate player, Hutson enjoyed a storied career, winning two NCAA Division II championships at CSU Bakersfield. In the 1993 championship season, the Roadrunners were undefeated with a 33-0 record and followed that up with a 27-6 record during the 1994 season.
Hutson earned his bachelor's degree in physical education in 1994 and a teaching credential in 1995 from CSU Bakersfield. He also received his master of arts in education from CSU Bakersfield in 2009.
Hutson is married to head coach Stacie Terry-Hutson.
The Hutson File
Hometown: Bakersfield, Calif.
Education: Cal State Bakersfield (Physical Education, 1994; Master’s Education, 2009)
Hutson’s Previous Coaching Experience (All Men’s Basketball)
2018-24: Fresno State (Head Coach)
2013-18: San Diego State (Assistant 2013-17; Associate Head Coach 2017-18)
2011-13: UNLV (Associate Head Coach)
2006-11: San Diego State (Assistant)
2004-06: Cal Poly (Assistant)
2000-04: Bakersfield High School (Head Coach)
1998-2000: Cal State Bakersfield (Assistant Coach)