Oregon men's basketball announces addition of Louis Rowe to coaching staff

Dana Altman has announced the latest addition to his coaching staff.

On Friday, Oregon announced that Altman has hired Louis Rowe as an assistant on his staff ahead of the 2023-24 season. The announcement comes after former UO assistants Chuck Martin (Kentucky) and Armon Gates (Oklahoma) both departed for roles with other programs during the offseason.

Rowe’s role was not specified in the press release released by Oregon on Friday, but he is listed as an assistant coach on the program’s online directory, along with longtime assistant Mike Mennenga. Earlier this month, The Oregonian/OregonLive reported that Brian Fish, who served as the Ducks’ executive director last season, has shifted to an assistant coaching role ahead of the 2023-24 season.

Fish is still listed as Oregon’s executive director, but the Ducks will presumably need to fill that role in the coming weeks.

Rowe spent the past two seasons as an assistant at the University of South Florida. Prior to that, he served as head coach for his alma mater, James Madison, from 2016-20. Rowe also served in assistant roles at Bowling Green (2015-16), Florida International (2013-15), and Rider (2012-13).

Rowe began his coaching career at James Madison during the 2007-08 season before pursuing his master’s degree as a graduate assistant from 2008-10. He returned to an assistant role in 2010 and continued through the 2012 season.

A former standout forward at JMU, Rowe was a two-time All-CAA selection and led the Dukes to a CAA Tournament title and NCAA Tournament berth in 1994. In two seasons at JMU, he tallied career averages of 17.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.4 blocks per game. Rowe began his playing career at Florida.

More on Ducks’ 2023-24 roster, outlook

The Ducks are coming off a disappointing 20-15 finish last season after missing out on the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive season.

In his final press conference of the season, head coach Dana Altman vowed that he and his staff would make wholesale roster changes in order to get the program back on track.

“We’re gonna evaluate all the guys individually,” Altman said in March. “We’ve gotta have guys who wanna be here. We’ve gotta make some changes. We’re not good enough. Either we’re not coaching good enough or the players aren’t good enough. We’re just not good enough. We’ve gotta get better. If that means changing personnel, if that means getting in the gym more. … We’re just not good enough.

“So, I’ve gotta start with me. I’m not good enough. Then we go right down the list. But, 21-15, that’s not good enough. So, we’re gonna get better. I’ve gotta do a better job. We’re gonna get after players. If they’re gonna stay here, they’re gonna work their ass off. If they don’t, then we’ve gotta find somebody who will.”

In the months that followed, Oregon added four transfer portal additions — as well as a 2023 signing class that features 5-star forward Kwame Evans, 5-star forward Mookie Cook, and 4-star guard Jackson Shelstad.

Former Florida Southwestern State guard Jadrian Tracey, former Georgia guard Kario Oquendo, former Central Michigan guard Jesse Zarzuela, and former Stetson center Mahamadou Diawara have all joined Altman’s squad via the portal.

Oregon also returns guards Keeshawn Barthelemy, Jermaine Couisnard, and Brennan Rigsby, and centers Nate Bittle and N’Faly Dante.