(Photo credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images)

Former Florida State player Luke Loucks is returning to his alma mater to serve as head coach, the school announced on Sunday.

Loucks, 34, will succeed Leonard Hamilton, who announced last month that his 23rd season would be his last at the helm.

'I am incredibly honored and excited for the opportunity to become the head coach for the Florida State men's basketball team,' Loucks said. 'FSU has a rich basketball tradition, and I look forward to building on the legacy of our previous coaches, especially Coach Hamilton. I'd like to thank the Sacramento Kings, Phoenix Suns and Golden State Warriors for providing me with a strong coaching foundation.'

For Loucks, an NBA assistant coach with the Kings (2022-25), this will be his first head coaching position. He was on the Warriors' coaching staff from 2016-21, serving as an assistant when the franchise won back-to-back NBA championships in 2017 and 2018.

Before joining the Kings, Loucks -- who specializes in on-court instruction and player development -- spent the 2021-22 season with the Phoenix Suns working in basketball strategy and personnel evaluation.

'I'm excited to announce that Luke Loucks has accepted our offer to become the next head men's basketball coach at Florida State,' vice president and director of athletics Michael Alford said. 'Luke will bring a unique combination of qualities to our program, and I'm excited to begin the next chapter of our basketball history under his leadership.'

As a player from 2008-12, Loucks helped the Seminoles reach the NCAA Tournament in each of his four seasons, marking the first time the program reached the NCAA Tournament in four consecutive seasons. He earned All-ACC tournament team honors in 2012, when Florida State claimed its first ACC tournament title.

--Field Level Media