Former Washington Huskies coach Lorenzo Romar has joined Sean Miller's staff at Arizona as associate head coach, Arizona announced Saturday. Romar replaces Joe Pasternack, who is now the head coach at UC Santa Barbara.
Romar spent 15 seasons in Seattle but was fired after the Huskies went 9-22 this season and missed the NCAA Tournament with potential No. 1 overall NBA draft pick Markelle Fultz.
"It's an exciting day for Arizona basketball to be able to welcome Lorenzo Romar and his family to our basketball family," coach Sean Miller said in a statement. "Lorenzo's accomplishments in this game speak for themselves, including his successful tenure as the head coach at Washington for the last 15 seasons. However, his dedication to his players, passion for this game and impeccable character is what everybody that knows him loves about him. He will no doubt make a significant impact in all aspects of our basketball program as we continue to build and improve in all that we do."
Romar is a highly regarded recruiter who has lured some of the top talent to Washington over the years, so his presence on the coaching staff at Arizona should only bolster its standing on the recruiting trail as one of the top dogs in the Pac-12. During his tenure at Washington, he produced nine first-round NBA draft picks and 12 NBA draft picks overall, including the likes of Isaiah Thomas with the Celtics and Marquese Chriss with the Suns.
"Of all the potential opportunities that were out there for me, joining the Arizona program was the one that was the most appealing," Romar said. "I truly believe Sean Miller is one of the best coaches in America. The opportunity to join him, his staff and the rich tradition of Arizona Basketball is something that I'm extremely excited about."
