Dwight Thorne enters his fifth year with men's basketball in 2020-21, his second as an assistant coach.
Thorne brought a calm presence and wealth of development knowledge in his first year as an assistant, helping reshape the environment and culture of the program that immediately had a positive impact.
He was major factor in the breakthrough years of senior Ade Murkey and Jase Townsend, who each made huge strides on and off the court.
His offseason work with Murkey was noticeable and recognized around the league, resulting in a second team All-Summit League selection. The senior had one of the more productive seasons in recent memory, averaging a team-leading 18.6 points per game, the highest by a DU player since former great Yemi Nicholson posted a Denver DI record 19.9 during the 2005-06 campaign.
Townsend saw his offensive output increase exponentially, with his scoring average going up by over 10 points a game to finish at 16.9, good for eighth in the Summit League as a sophomore.
He spent three season as Director of Basketball Operations for the University of Denver from 2016-19.
Thorne helped organize the day-to-day activities for the Pioneers in his first three years as well as handle all travel, food and hotel arrangements needed throughout his tenure.
Thorne played college basketball at the University of Colorado and graduated with a degree in marketing in 2010. He spent last season at Georgia Tech as a graduate assistant.
The Yellow Jackets finished the 2015-16 with a 21-15 record and a quarterfinal appearance in the National Invitation Tournament.
The Texas native assists with administrative needs, film exchange, coordinating team’s video needs and managing the men’s basketball budget.
Thorne finished his career at CU playing 117 games, scoring 750 points, grabbing 234 rebounds and dishing out 160 assists. From 2010-14, Thorne played professionally in Europe in Germany, Croatia and Greece.
You can follow Coach Thorne on Twitter at @dlt_1215.
You can reach Coach at the following email: dwight.thorne@du.edu
