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| Puget Sound athletics photo by Dan McCormack |
After 12 seasons as head coach of the Puget Sound men's basketball program, Justin Lunt announced that he is resigning from his post with the Loggers. Lunt has accepted the head coaching position at fellow Northwest Confernce member Pacific.
Lunt concludes his Puget Sound tenure with a 180-129 (.582) overall record, including a 106-86 (.552) record in the Northwest Conference. His Logger teams finished above .500 in six seasons. Puget Sound qualified for seven Northwest Conference tournament appearances during Lunt's tenure. The 2008-09 Loggers claimed NWC regular-season title by going 16-0 in conference, and Lunt was recognized as the NWC Coach of the Year.
At Pacific, Lunt will follow Jerod Gibson, who held the job on an interim basis this season and led the Boxers to a 12-13 mark, matching the team's win total from each of the previous three seasons. He will bring the fast-paced style of basketball used at Puget Sound to Pacific.
“I am so grateful and excited to be named the head men’s basketball coach at Pacific University,” said Lunt. “I loved my opportunity to talk with Ken Schumann (athletic director), the search committee as well as the outstanding colleagues in the athletic department and across campus. The enthusiasm and commitment to providing the best experience for Boxer student-athletes resonated with me and I look forward to growing and learning with them.”
Lunt joined the Puget Sound coaching staff as an assistant for the 2004-05 season. He was Puget Sound's interim head coach during the 2006-07 campaign, and was named the full-time head coach in April 2007.
"Justin's passion and enthusiasm for the game and his student-athletes provided great moments of excitement in Memorial Fieldhouse over his 12 years as a head coach. He has been a strong partner in the department as well as the campus community and his presence will be missed."
Puget Sound has begun the process of a national search for its next men's basketball head coach.