Valparaiso University men’s basketball head coach Matt Lottich announced today that Todd Townsend and Rob Holloway have joined the Crusader program as assistant coaches for the 2018-19 season as Valpo embarks on its second season as a member of the Missouri Valley Conference.

Townsend joins the staff after most recently spending one season as an assistant coach at Milwaukee, where he worked with current Butler head coach LaVall Jordan. He brings experience coaching in the MVC to Valpo, as he was on staff for three seasons at Drake (2013-16). Townsend also has spent four seasons as an assistant at Northern Illinois (2009-13) and one year as an assistant at Northeastern (2007-08). He brings professional experience as well, having both played and coached in Europe during the 2008-09 season.

Townsend played collegiately for Tom Crean at Marquette from 2001-05, helping the Golden Eagles to 91 victories and a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances in his four seasons. Townsend started all 33 games for Marquette as a sophomore in 2002-03 as the Golden Eagles advanced to the Final Four for the first time since 1977.

“We are extremely excited that Todd will be joining the Valpo basketball community,” said Lottich. “Todd is the complete package.  He recruits very well, has a great basketball mind and is committed to helping our current players reach their goals.”

Holloway joins the Crusader program after spending the last two seasons as an assistant coach at Eastern Illinois. Prior to his time at EIU, Holloway served one year as an assistant at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. Holloway has head coaching experience as well, spending three seasons (2012-15) heading up the Kennedy-King College program in Chicago following a stint as an assistant there under former Valpo assistant coach Emanuel Dildy.

“Rob is an up-and-coming star in the coaching ranks in the Midwest,” said Lottich. “He has experience at the Junior College, Division II and Division I levels. Rob has proven to recruit and develop players at a high level. He is a great addition and will help propel our program forward.”