Welcome home, Tyus!

I know, I know. For the True Bruin Fan, this is old news. But I need to post this, otherwise MUCLAH cannot claim to be all UCLA Basketball. MUCLAH welcomes Mr. 4.8er himself: Tyus Edney. Welcome home, Tyus.

Bruin Standout Tyus Edney Returns To UCLA

Tyus Edney named to the post of Men's Basketball Director of Operations.

from the Oficial UCLA Men's Basketball website
Aug. 2, 2010


LOS ANGELES - UCLA Head Men's Basketball Coach Ben Howland announced today the hiring of Bruin standout Tyus Edney to the post of Men's Basketball Director of Operations effective immediately.

"I'm really excited that Tyus is joining our staff and returning to the UCLA men's basketball program," Howland said. "He's a Bruin through and through having graduated from UCLA and brings a wealth of knowledge and energy to the program. I feel our student-athletes will benefit greatly from dealing with Tyus on a daily basis because he has experienced the things they will experience here at UCLA."

A three-year starter at the point for UCLA, Edney led the 1995 Bruins to the school's 11th NCAA national title. He was brilliant during the NCAA Tournament where he was named the Most Outstanding Player in the West Regional, earning a spot in NCAA Tournament lore after his full-court dash with 4.8 seconds left to score the game-winning layup against Missouri. The basket gave the Bruins a 75-74 victory and propelled the No. 1 seed into the Sweet 16.



Edney still ranks on six career leaders charts at UCLA, ranking second in assists (652, 5.2 apg), third in steals (224, 1.8 spg), third in free throws made (450), seventh in free throws attempted (559), ninth in free throw percentage (.805, 450-559) and 20th in scoring with 1,515 points (12.1 ppg). A three-time first team All-Pac-10 selection (1993-95), Edney still owns the UCLA single-game record for steals with 11 against George Mason on Dec. 22, 1994. Edney garnered the 1995 Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award, given annually to the nation's best player six-feet and under.

"He's had an illustrious professional career both in the NBA and overseas," Howland added. "I'm very excited that he's back home."

Edney was selected by the Sacramento Kings in the second round with the 47th overall pick of the 1995 NBA Draft. He played with the Kings for two seasons (1995-97). He spent two more seasons in the NBA, with the Boston Celtics in 1997-98 and with the Indiana Pacers in 2000-01. Between those seasons he played for Euroleague winner BC Zalgiris earning the Euroleague Final Four MVP title and, during the 1999-2000 season, in Italy for Benetton Treviso (losing in the Italian League finals and winning the Italian Cup).

Following his departure from the NBA in 2001, Edney played for several European teams, including another stint with Benetton Treviso (2001-04, won the Italian league in 2002 and 2003, Italian Cup in 2003 and 2004 and Italian Supercup in 2002 and 2003, played in the Euroleague final in 2003). He played for Lottomatica Virtus Roma in Italy in 2004-05 and then moved to Greece to play for Olympiacos in 2005-06. In the 2006-07 season, he returned to Italy to play for Fortitudo Bologna. He started the 2008-09 season with Cajasol Sevilla in Spain and then (January 2009) moved to Turow Zgorzelec where he ended his playing career.

"I'm really excited because this is something that I've always wanted to do," Edney said. "I'm very fortunate to be ending my pro career now with this opportunity presenting itself. I'm thankful that Coach Howland gave me this opportunity and has the confidence that I can bring something new and exciting to this great program."
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Ex-Bruins star Edney dashing back to UCLA as director of basketball operations
By Jon Gold, Staff Writer
The LA Daily News
Posted: 08/02/2010 10:20:34 PM PDT
Updated: 08/02/2010 11:33:25 PM PDT


Former UCLA point guard Tyus Edney was announced as the new director of operations for men's basketball Monday, taking over for Joe Hillock, who will become the new boys' basketball head coach at Stoneridge Prep.

Edney, who played in the NBA for four seasons and played several years overseas, recently talked about getting into coaching and now he has his avenue.

"I'm really excited that Tyus is joining our staff and returning to the UCLA men's basketball program," UCLA men's basketball coach Ben Howland said in a news release. "He's a Bruin through and through having graduated from UCLA and brings a wealth of knowledge and energy to the program.

"I feel our student-athletes will benefit greatly from dealing with Tyus on a daily basis because he has experienced the things they will experience here at UCLA."

Edney is beloved among Bruins fans for his length-of-the-court layup in the second round of the 1995 NCAA Tournament against Missouri. His 4.8-second sprint led UCLA to a one-point victory and into the Sweet 16, and the Bruins ultimately won the tournament for the school's last national title and 11th overall.



Edney, a three-year starter and three-time All Pac-10 first-team selection, ranks second on the UCLA leaderboard in career assists (652, 5.2 apg), third in steals (224, 1.8 spg), third in free throws made (450), seventh in free throws attempted (559), ninth in free throw percentage (.805, 450-559) and 20th in scoring with 1,515 points (12.1 ppg).

"It's really exciting for me. It's going to be a great opportunity, and it's something I've always wanted to do," Edney said. "Having a chance to come back to my university, I feel like I'm coming back home."