Sports360AZ
Grand Canyon head basketball coach Dan Majerle has been hard at work ever since taking over as the Lopes’ 13th head coach.
This is a critical time for the Lopes, as they’re about to make the jump to Division I and the WAC. So proper coaching will be paramount for Grand Canyon as the level of competition increases.
Todd Lee assumes the job of associate head coach. Lee joins Grand Canyon after serving as head men’s basketball coach at Division II Kentucky Wesleyan College.
Lee served in that capacity for eight seasons and compiled a 134-48 record in his last six seasons. Under Lee, the Cougars made six straight trips to the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament, and five to the NCAA Midwest Regional. He has coached college basketball for 25 years, spending 11 years at the Division I level, eight of which were at UC-Irvine. He was also an assistant coach there as well.
“Todd has been a very successful coach at Kentucky Wesleyan,” said Majerle. “His teams made five postseason appearances in his tenure and set many school records.”
“I am going to lean heavily on him in my transition from the professional level,” Majerle said. “Todd is a great family man and embodies the spirit of Grand Canyon.”
Mark Nelson served under former head coach Russ Pennell, and will remain with the Lopes. Nelson was an assistant coach with the Lopes for the past four years. Nelson brings 18 years of coaching experience back to Grand Canyon, 11 of them coming at the junior college level.
“Mark and I connected from day one and I look forward to working with him for years to come,” added Majerle.
“He knows Grand Canyon and will help the entire staff make a smooth transition,” Majerle said. “Mark has been a head coach for many years and has a great on the floor presence with players.”
“He played at the D-I level at Kansas State and will be able to apply those experiences to our program,” Majerle said.
Chris Crevelone rounds out the three coaches who will serve under Majerle.
Prior to joining Grand Canyon, Crevelone spent four years at the University of Texas as a graduate assistant and video coordinator under head coach Rick Barnes.
Crevelone has Arizona ties. He spent time as the Head Freshman/Head Junior Varsity/Assistant Varsity coach at Ironwood Ridge High School in Tucson, Ariz. From 2002-2007, he was camp director/coach at the Lute Olsen Basketball Camps in Tucson and at the Sean Miller Basketball Camps in 2009, which was also held in Tucson.
“Chris is a young man that comes to us from the University of Texas with a great knowledge of camps and film work,” said Majerle. “He is very eager and enthusiastic and a guy I will have out there recruiting and attracting the best talent to Phoenix.”
T.J. Benson will remain on staff as the Lopes’ director of basketball operations. This coming season will be his second in that capacity. Benson played at Weber State and at Grand Canyon, earning Second Team All-Conference honors for the Lopes in 2010.
