July 20, 2006

SAN DIEGO - Justin Hutson, who won two Division II national championships as a player, led Bakersfield (Calif.) High to a CIF Central Section Championship and most recently served as an assistant coach at Cal Poly, has been named an assistant coach at San Diego State, head coach Steve Fisher announced Thursday.

Hutson replaces Mark Hughes who left San Diego State after two seasons to accept a position with the Sacramento Kings in June.

"We are excited to add Justin to the San Diego State family," Fisher said. "He brings tremendous enthusiasm and passion for the game as well as the unique ability to communicate with student-athletes. He won a national championship as a player, had a very successful high school coaching career and recruited extremely well at Cal Poly the last two seasons. He has great contacts all over the west and is a wonderful addition to our staff."

Hutson, 34, served as an assistant coach at Cal Poly the last two seasons. The Mustangs went 10-19 last season, doubling their previous season's win total, and were tied with NCAA Tournament participant Pacific with 3:19 to play in the semifinal round of the Big West Conference tournament. He was responsible for recruiting the 2006 Big West Conference Freshman of the Year to San Luis Obispo and two of his Mustang recruits were named to the Big West all-freshman team.

"I am excited and very eager to work for a great coach and a great university," Hutson said. "I admire what Coach Fisher and his staff have been able to accomplish at San Diego State. I want to help this program continue to grow and I will work hard to accomplish that."

Prior to arriving at Cal Poly, Hutson served as the head varsity coach at Bakersfield High where he led them to a CIF Central Section Championship and four appearances in the playoffs in four seasons. His 2004 team was ranked as high as No. 22 in the nation and fourth in California and his 2003 squad finished the season with a 25-5 record and won the section title.

Hutson had a storied college career, winning two NCAA Division II championships at Cal State Bakersfield. In the 1993 championship season, the Roadrunners were undefeated with a 33-0 record and followed that up with a 27-6 record during the 1994 season.

"The thing that really attracted me to this position was Coach Fisher and his experienced staff," Hutson said. "Everyone had good things to say about him and once you meet him you know why. He has a wealth of experience, has won a national championship and has done it the right way. The other thing that struck me is the commitment San Diego State has to winning. The resources this university has put into athletics, from personnel to facilities, is impressive."

A native of Bakersfield, Hutson earned his bachelor's degree in physical education in 1994 and teaching credentials in 1995 from Cal State Bakersfield. He is engaged to Aasia Locke.