The Phoenix Suns organization is bringing in a notable name from 2016.
The Valley Suns, the G League affiliate of the Phoenix Suns, announced this week that they have appointed Paul Jesperson as an assistant coach. He will join the staff under Valley Suns head coach John Little. College basketball fans may remember Jesperson as a March Madness standout. During the 2016 NCAA Tournament, while playing for Northern Iowa, he made headlines with a remarkable halfcourt buzzer-beater that upset Texas in the Round of 64.
Although Northern Iowa subsequently lost to Texas A&M in the Round of 32 that year, Jesperson’s shot has become iconic, especially since the Panthers have not returned to the NCAA Tournament since then. Now 31, Jesperson went undrafted in 2016 and spent a couple of years playing professionally in Spain before transitioning to coaching. He gained NBA experience with the Atlanta Hawks from 2020 to 2023 as an assistant video coordinator and later as a player development coach. Most recently, he served as the director of player development and assistant coach for the University of Oklahoma’s men’s basketball team. Jesperson is now set to join the extended Phoenix Suns organization, which has a rich legacy of March Madness legends.
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