Nicholls has the youngest coach in college basketball and a recent SEC win

Coming into Rupp Arena tonight, the Nicholls Colonels are led by third-year head coach Tevon Saddler, who holds the title of youngest active head coach in Division I basketball.

At just 28 years old when hired in April 2023, Saddler, now 30, returned to his alma mater, Nicholls State University, after stops as a graduate assistant at South Alabama and an assistant at McNeese. Between those two jobs, Saddler was Nicholls’ director of basketball operations from 2019-2021, then returned home for his first head coaching job in 2023-24.

In his first two seasons with the Colonels, Saddler delivered back-to-back 20-win campaigns, a first in school history. Saddler was quick to make a statement, too. In his debut win, he led Nicholls to a shocking victory over LSU in Baton Rouge.

He was named a finalist for the Joe B. Hall National Coach of the Year award, given annually to the top first-year head coach. Now in Year 3, Saddler’s Colonels replaced their top-six scorers from a year ago. Saddler rebuilt with transfers and three returners in Jaylen Searles, Trae English, and Sincere Malone.

Saddler as a player at Nicholls

Though he finished at Nicholls, Saddler began his collegiate playing career at UNC Greensboro, where he was the Southern Freshman of the Year. He led the team and picked up third-team all-conference honors as a sophomore, then packed his bags for greener pastures.

Saddler sat out for two seasons after his time in Greensboro, then landed at Nicholls for his final year of eligibility, with averages of 15.8 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 2.8 assists as a Colonel. He was named a second-team All-Southland Conference selection.

Tonight, he and the current Nicholls players have a big task in their opening game, playing at Rupp Arena as a 30.5-point underdog.

Go Cats.