Former CSU Star Becomes First Woman Assistant Coach in NBA History

Remember back to the late-90's when Colorado State Women's Basketball meant something? Not that they haven't had some moderate success since then, but that is when one of the school's biggest stars in any sport was in Fort Collins making the Rams a national contender. Now that same CSU Ram is making basketball history on the biggest possible stage. 

The defending NBA Champion San Antonio Spurs have hired former CSU and WNBA star Becky Hammon as an assistant coach. She will become the first woman to be on an NBA coaching staff, but not the first to work for a team: the Clippers hired Natalie Nakase as an assistant video coordinator in 2013, and Lisa Boyer assisted John Lucas's 2001-02 Cavaliers in a volunteer role, but was never formally on staff and didn't travel with the team or sit on the bench during games.

Hammon played at CSU from 1996-99, and was a four-time first-team all-Conference player and named a first-team All-American in 1999. She also won the WAC Mountain Division player of the year in 1998 and 1999, WAC Pacific Division player of the year in 1997 and WAC freshman of the year in 1996. Her number 25 jersey has been retired by the school.