Curtis Allen will remain on the Palouse as the third assistant coach for WSU men’s basketball. Head coach Ernie Kent made the announcement about hiring of his final assistant Thursday and expressed how important it was to keep Allen at WSU.

“I feel like it’s important to have someone on staff who knows the players, academic and campus communities and the recent history of the program, and Curtis Allen provides that,” Kent said in a press release. “I feel like with the experienced coaches I’ve brought to the staff in Silvey Dominguez and Greg Graham, along with Curtis, we have the opportunity to be very successful.”

Allen was an assistant coach for the Cougars under former men’s basketball head coach Ken Bone for five seasons. Before WSU, Allen joined Coach Bone at Portland State as an assistant coach in 2005 and in four seasons helped the Vikings achieve a record of 77-49 and two NCAA tournament appearances.

The third assistant coach for the Cougars is on board with Kent.

“I’m really excited to join Coach Kent’s staff,” Allen said in a press release. “He’s been successful at the highest level and his style of play is very exciting. I look forward to representing Coach Kent and to continue to represent Washington State University, while helping the young men in this program grow as both players and people.”

Allen played basketball at the University of Washington from 2000-04 and has participated in UW and Seattle Pacific Basketball camps, along with coaching at Ballard High School during the summer of 2005. He also runs his own camp at the Ballard Boys and Girls Club.