Missouri State men’s basketball head coach Paul Lusk officially completed his coaching staff Friday (July 13) with the addition of Derrick Tilmon as an assistant coach.

A native of Clarksdale, Miss., Tilmon has spent the last three years as an assistant for coach Rodney Watson at the University of Southern Indiana. The Screaming Eagles won the 2012 GLVC Tournament title and advanced to the NCAA Division II Tournament. USI was 72-16 during Tilmon’s three seasons at the Evansville school with 24 wins in all three campaigns while producing nine all-conference picks and three All-Americans.

“We’re very excited about adding Derrick to our staff,” said Lusk. “He has done an excellent job as an assistant at Southern Indiana and provided so much value to that program and to Coach Watson. He played in The Valley and brings valuable experience to our staff. We are fortunate to have Derrick and his family joining the MSU family, and we look forward to having him here.”

Tilmon started his collegiate career as a player at Hiawassee Junior College in Madisonville, Tenn., before three seasons at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. At 6-foot-7, he was a three-year starting forward and center for the Salukis, ending his career as SIU’s 13th all-time leading shot blocker with 58.

He played 82 games in his career in Carbondale and scored 605 points. The Salukis were 20-13 and advanced to the second round of the 1998 NIT during Tilmon’s senior year where he played alongside former MSU assistant Kent Williams that season.

After his playing days at SIU, Tilmon spent five years playing professionally in Europe with stops in Austria, and the Netherlands. He earned a spot on the Netherlands All-Star team and was part of the Netherlands championship series.

After his playing career ended in 2005, he spent one year as an assistant coach at Shorter College in Rome, Ga., before a three-year stint as assistant at Kentucky Wesleyan College in Owensboro, Ky., from 2006-09.

Tilmon graduated from SIU with a bachelor’s degree in health education in 2000. He and his wife Nicole have two sons, Derrick Jr., and Darren.

The 36-year-old replaces Kyle Smithpeters on the MSU staff. Smithpeters departed July 3 to accept the head coaching job at John A. Logan College. Tilmon’s hire is pending formal approval by the Missouri State Board of Governors at its next meeting, Aug. 3.

— MSU Sports Information —