Sam Dekker lands assistant coaching job at NCAA Division I program

Former Wisconsin Badgers basketball star Sam Dekker, a Sheboygan native and leader during the team's national runner-up run in 2015, has landed an assistant coach gig with former UW assistant Lamont Paris at South Carolina.

Paris has been at the helm the past four seasons in South Carolina, including a 13-19 season last year. The Gamecocks have made one NCAA Tournament since Paris arrived from Chattanooga, where he led the Mocs to an 87-72 mark and reached the NCAA Tournament in 2022. Before that, Paris was on staff with the Badgers when the program went to back-to-back Final Fours.

“Development of each player’s individual abilities is as important now as it has ever been in college basketball,” Paris said in a South Carolina release. “Sam’s unique experiences and skill set will allow him to have a tremendous impact on our players and program immediately. He is a winner through and through, and I am thrilled to add him to our staff as an assistant coach."

Dekker, the standout at Sheboygan Area Lutheran who played three seasons for the Badgers, was taken 18th overall in the 2015 NBA Draft by the Houston Rockets. His career included stints in Russia, Turkey, England and Spain, including for a London Lions team that won the league championship in 2023, with Dekker averaging 17.5 points and 5.1 rebounds per game en route to the league MVP award. He finished his pro career this season in Spain.

Wisconsin Badgers forward Sam Dekker (15) drives to the basket against Arizona Wildcats forward Stanley Johnson (5) during the NCAA Men's Basketball Division 1 West Regional finals game between Wisconsin and Arizona, Saturday, March 28, 2015 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California.