Valley Suns have named Paul Jesperson as their new head coach. Jesperson, who spent last season as an assistant with the team.
The Valley Suns have officially announced Paul Jesperson as the new head coach of the Phoenix Suns G League affiliate.
“Paul is ready to take this next step in his career as he moves into the role of head coach,” said Valley Suns General Manager Brendan Sabean.
“His background and experience complement our vision to utilize the G League as a lifeline of development for Suns and Valley Suns players. He’s a natural fit for the job and I’m looking forward to seeing the impact he can make as head coach.”
As a player, Jesperson made his mark at Virginia (2011–13) before transferring to Northern Iowa (2013–16). He appeared in 127 collegiate games, starting 69, and remains best remembered for his iconic March Madness half-court game-winner against Texas in 2016.
Jesperson heads into his second season with the Valley Suns, having served as an assistant coach under John Little last year.
With Jesperson on staff, the expansion team posted a 20-14 regular-season record in their inaugural campaign, securing a playoff berth and a first-round win over the Santa Cruz Warriors.
The Valley Suns ranked sixth in the league in scoring (117.1 PPG) and led the G League in made threes per game (16.2). They also impressed at the G League Showcase Cup, finishing with a 10-6 record and locking in the No. 5 seed.
Before joining the Valley Suns, Jesperson gained experience across multiple levels. He worked as director of player development and assistant coach at the University of Oklahoma and spent three seasons with the Atlanta Hawks, where he moved from assistant video coordinator to player development coach.
Like what we are doing? You can express your gratitude here.