Tristan Spurlock

Tristan Spurlock is in his third season as the director of player development/assistant coach with the University of Iowa men’s basketball program.

In his two seasons on staff, Spurlock has helped the Hawkeyes to 38 victories and two postseason appearances (1 NCAA, 1 NIT). He has coached one All-American, a Big Ten Freshman and Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year and 10 All-Big Ten honorees.

During the 2023-24 season, Iowa won 19 games, including 10 in Big Ten play, to finish in a tie for sixth in the league standings. Five players earned All-Big Ten honors with Tony Perkins earning second team honors and Payton Sandfort being a third-team honoree. Owen Freeman became the second Hawkeye all-time (and first in 30 years) to be named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year.

In his first season on staff, Spurlock helped the Hawkeyes qualify for the NCAA Tournament with 19 wins and place fifth in the Big Ten. He helped five players achieve postseason recognition, including third-team consensus All-American Kris Murray. Other Hawkeyes earning honors include Filip Rebraca (third-team all-conference); Payton Sandfort (Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year); Tony Perkins and Connor McCaffery (honorable mention all-conference).

Spurlock came to Iowa City after playing professionally for nine years, mostly overseas in more than 10 different countries. He concluded his playing career, averaging 12 points and six rebounds in Uruguay.

Spurlock, who worked out for several NBA teams following graduation, earned a spot on Detroit’s 2015 NBA Summer League roster, averaging 10 points, three rebounds and three assists.

A native of Woodbridge, Virginia, Spurlock received college scholarship offers from a number of Power 5 Conference schools. He played one season at the University of Virginia (2010) before transferring and starting for three seasons at the University of Central Florida (2012-14). While with the Knights, Spurlock averaged 9.8 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 92 games.

Spurlock was named Mr. Basketball in the state of Virginia and earned All-MET accolades after averaging 23 points, nine rebounds, four assists and three blocks as a senior at Word of Life Christian Academy in 2009. He also participated in the Capital Classic, an All-Star Game, which featured such players as Lebron James, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul and former Hawkeye Luka Garza.

Spurlock earned his bachelor’s degree in communications from UCF in 2014. He has two children -- Alaya and Tahj.