Anthony Anderson enters his second season as an assistant with the Lamar men’s basketball program. Anderson returns to the collegiate ranks after spending the previous two seasons at the high school level where he served as assistant coach at St. Paul (La.) High School and head coach of the Louisiana Bluechips and Lady Bluechips AAU squad.
Anderson was a key figure in a coaching staff that had an immediate impact during its first season at LU. Despite getting a late start on the recruiting trail, the coaching staff was able to add several pieces to a squad that had won only seven games in the two previous seasons combined. The final result, a team that more than doubled its win total from the previous two years and recorded one of the nation’s top single-season turnarounds.
Anderson brings 18 years of collegiate coaching experience with him, including 15 at the NCAA Division I level. His collegiate stops have given him a strong understanding of the Lone Star State with positions at TCU, SMU and Texas-Arlington. Anderson also comes to LU with an understanding of the Southland Conference serving as both a graduate assistant and full-time coach at McNeese State in the mid 90s.
In addition to his time within the state of Texas, Anderson has also made coaching stops at Florida International, Miami, New Orleans and Tulane. He has made a career out of improving the talent level when he joins a coaching staff. He has served as recruiting coordinator for six different programs, securing some of the nation’s top talent.
While serving as the associate head coach to NBA Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas at FIU, Anderson helped sign the nation’s 30th-ranked class according to Hoop Scoop Inc. Anderson found similar success with the Hurricanes in Miami. His 2003 signing class received top-10 recognition from Street & Smith’s Magazine.
Those signing classes went far beyond “potential” as several players continued their playing careers at the next level – including five different players who were either drafted or picked up via free agency with NBA franchises.
Anderson’s recruits have also proven themselves to be true student-athletes, succeeding in the classroom as well as on the court. During his time at SMU, the men’s basketball program recorded an 89 percent graduation success rate, which ranked second among all Conference USA schools, and finished among the nation’s top 10 percent for NCAA basketball teams.
In addition to his experience as an assistant coach, Anderson also brings two years experience as a head coach from NAIA Dillard University in New Orleans. Anderson was at Dillard from 2006-08 before leaving to take an assistant position at TCU.
Anderson played basketball at McNeese State for two seasons, after transferring from Lakes Community College. He received his bachelor’s degree from McNeese State in 1995.
Anderson, and his wife Kimmy, have three sons - Anthony, Antwann and Andre.
