Doug Novsek will join the Wolf Pack men’s basketball staff as an assistant coach, Nevada head coach Mark Fox announced Monday.
Novsek comes to the University of Nevada after spending the past four seasons at the University of Nebraska (2002-03 through 2005-06). While at Nebraska, Novsek assisted with daily workouts, on-court coaching and recruiting, serving as the position coach for the perimeter players for one season, the post players for two years and the point guards last season. Novsek replaces Josh Newman, who left Nevada to become the head men’s basketball coach at the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith in July.
“I am extremely excited to add Doug to our coaching staff. He brings a wealth of experience at this level to our program,” Fox said. “I am very excited about his desire to help enrich the tradition of Nevada basketball.”
Under Novsek's tutelage last season, guard Charles Richardson Jr. became the first Husker in four years to post at least 100 assists. Richardson ranked 10th in the Big 12 Conference in assists per game (3.3) and was one of the best at taking care of the ball as he ranked fourth in the league in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.92). In 2004-05, Novsek helped center Aleks Maric develop into one of the top freshman in the Big 12 Conference. Maric set an NU freshman record with 169 rebounds and ranked among the top 15 in the league in rebounding.
Prior to Nebraska, Novsek spent three seasons as an assistant coach at Illinois State (1999-00 to 2001-02), helping the Redbirds to a 21-9 record and a NIT bid in 2000-01. He also served as assistant coach for five seasons at Southwest Texas (1994-95 to 1998-99) and spent five years at Indiana State (1989-90 to 1993-94). While at Southwest Texas, Novsek helped the Bobcats to regular-season championships in 1997 and 1999, while the 1999 squad also won the 1997 Southland Conference Tournament and earned a berth in the NCAA Tournament.
A Lawrenceville, Ill., native, Novsek earned his bachelor’s degree from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale in 1987. Novsek played basketball for the Salukis for four years and served as a captain for two seasons.
As a prep standout, Novsek was second runner-up for the Illinois Mr. Basketball award in 1982 after leading Lawrenceville High School to an undefeated record and Class A state championship.
Novsek and his wife, Cheryl, have two children: a daughter, Jordyn and a son, Derek.
