It’s the end of an era in Tallahassee as Leonard Hamilton has coached his final game for the Florida State Seminoles. The team’s season ended as they lost to Syracuse in the first round of the 2025 ACC Tournament. It was a bittersweet moment as fans watched a legend say goodbye. However, Hamilton’s retirement also opens up new opportunities for the future.
Surely, many Florida State fans are relieved that the season is over. Once again, it was a rollercoaster affair as the team finished the year at 17-15 (8–12). The last month of the season was rough for the Seminoles. They lost six of their last nine games of the season, which featured a four-game losing streak.
When Hamilton announced he was resigning after the season, the question immediately was who was next? Several coaches were in the conversation. However, Athletic Director Michael Alford couldn’t just pick any candidate to be the next head coach. It had to be someone who fits the Florida State culture and continues the legacy that Leonard Hamilton built.
Sacramento Kings Assistant Coach Luke Loucks was the perfect candidate for the position. Just a brief background, Loucks is no stranger to Garnet and Gold as he played college basketball at Florida State from 2008-2012. Loucks was an important piece to the team as a quality role player, helping the Seminoles reach the NCAA Tournament all four seasons.
What also played a role in Loucks’ hiring was the relationship he’s had with Coach Hamilton since his college days. During his press conference, Loucks reminisced about the days when he was in Hamilton’s office as well as their regular two-hour conversations. The bond that the two have goes beyond basketball. When the hitting was official, Coach Hamilton knew he could leave the legacy he built with someone he knew very well.
The city of Tallahassee was ecstatic when Loucks arrived on Sunday afternoon. It felt like turning to the next chapter in a book. You close the last one on a good note and anticipate what is next. Loucks’ Press Conference was on Monday morning, and he did a great job persuading the fans to believe in the future of the program.
“It’s good to be home,” Loucks said in his opening statement. Florida State's new head coach shows that he’s ready to get to work. He understands the standard that the school has with athletics and wants to put the basketball team in a good position.
Loucks has great qualities to lead Florida State as a head coach. After his playing career, he found himself as an assistant coach in the NBA, coaching under Steve Kerr with the Golden State Warriors. Loucks won two NBA titles as an assistant coach as he worked with great players like Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Draymond Green, and several others.
It’s not just Loucks working with great players but the mentorship he had from other Warrior coaches. From Kerr to Mike Brown, he understood different philosophies of basketball that led to success. “I've been surrounded by great coaches my entire life,” Loucks said during his press conference. Considering the leadership he’s always been around, coaching has been a calling for Loucks since a young age.
While fans are excited about a new beginning for Florida State Basketball, there’s also patience that comes with the journey of a new head coach. Loucks has high expectations to turn the program around, but it may take some time. With a new system and scheme that he is bringing to the team, it wouldn’t be a surprise if the Seminoles fail to emerge as the best team in the ACC.
Not guaranteeing that will happen. The Seminoles may rank number one in the ACC rankings next season, putting the program back where it needs to be. The goal is to be optimistic as the Noles prepare for next season. However, building a great team takes time. It could take Loucks from five games to five seasons to build a championship team. However, with patience, he’ll get the program to where it needs to be.
The loss against Syracuse in the ACC Tournament was a tough one to swallow. Florida State had expectations to shock the world and make a deep run to a Conference Title. Luckily, that is now in the past. It’s time for the Seminoles and their fans to focus on the near future with Luke Loucks as the new voice for the basketball program.