Niko Medved welcomes veteran coach Ken DeWeese to the Colorado State men's basketball staff. DeWeese trades in Wyoming's brown and gold for CSU's preferred green and gold.
"I am excited to welcome Ken and his family to our program," Medved said "He brings valuable experience and knowledge of our league after his time at Wyoming. We are fortunate to have someone with his reputation and track record join our program."
DeWeese spent the past four years at Wyoming, most recently as the associate head coach. At Wyoming, he helped the Cowboys earn their first at-large NCAA Tournament bid in 20 years when the Cowboys reached the 2022 tournament with a 25-9 record. It was the program's most wins since 1951-52.
While in Laramie he coached six All-Mountain West honorees and the 2021 Freshman of the Year Marcus Williams.
Prior to his time in Laramie, DeWeese was on staff at Northern Colorado from 2016-20. He helped the Bears to the program's first postseason title winning the CIT in 2018 as the team won a program-best 26 games. Over his final three years in Greeley, the program won a three-year best mark of 69 games and finished inside the top 100 of the NET ratings his final season.
DeWeese mentored Big Sky Player of the Year Jordan Davis, three-time Defensive Player of the Year Johan Radabaugh, Sixth Man of the Year Kai Edwards and Freshman of the Year Bodie Hume over his career.
He spent time at UTEP before he arrived in Greeley. DeWeese helped guide UTEP to over 120 wins, including three seasons of 22 wins or more and two NIT appearances. Known for his recruiting at UTEP, DeWeese signed 26 players that were on Conference USA commissioner's Honor Roll selections.
In his first year as an assistant at El Paso, he recruited four student-athletes that went on to earn All-Conference USA honors, including C-USA Defensive Player of the Year. He recruited a consensus national Top 100 recruit, Vincent Hunter. Hunter went on to be C-USA Freshman of the Year in 2013-14 and First Team All-Conference in 2014-15. His 2013 recruiting class was ranked in the Top 25 by numerous media outlets.
DeWeese coached Vince Hunter of the Memphis Grizzlies, Former Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year Julian Washburn of the Memphis Grizzlies and Julyan Stone, who played for the Nuggets, Raptors and Hornets. Two of his players also played in the NFL in Cederik Lang of the Eagles and Aaron Jones of the Packers.
In back-to-back years, DeWeese was ranked as the top assistant in C-USA by NextUpRecruits.com and was the second-ranked assistant in 2013-14 and '14-'15.In six seasons at UTEP, the Miners defeated nationally ranked opponents Oregon, Nebraska, Michigan, Texas Tech, New Mexico State, Auburn, Memphis, Tennessee, Xavier and Washington State.
Before UTEP, DeWeese spent a season at Utah Valley and four seasons at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor. With the Wolverines at Utah Valley, he was in charge of recruiting the 2010 recruiting class, which led to back-to-back winning seasons for UVU, going 19-11 and 20-12 after finishing 12-18 in 2009-10.
As an assistant at Mary Hardin-Baylor (2005-09) under his father Ken DeWeese, the Crusaders finished with an 85-27 (.758) in his four seasons and clinched two NCAA (Division III) tournament berths. DeWeese was solely responsible for the recruitment of four student-athletes that helped UMHB reach the 2013 D3 National Championship game.
The many other accolades that DeWeese helped Hardin-Baylor receive were, No. 12 National Ranking in the Top 25 poll, leading all of Division III in field goal percentage, four American Southwest Conference tournament appearances and two division titles. His father has over 800 wins in his career as the head coach.
DeWeese got his start in the coaching ranks at Idaho in 2005 as the Director of Basketball Operations.
Ken and his wife Natalie have three children, Emery, Ellison and Dane.
