A familiar face to Wyoming basketball fans is coming back to Laramie. Shaun Vandiver has been hired as an assistant coach for the Cowboys.

UW head coach Allen Edwards announced the move Thursday, pending contract approval.

Vandiver was a grad assistant during the 2002-2003 season. He left the Gem City and returned as an assistant under Steve McClain and Heath Schroyer from 2005-2010. Vandiver has been the head coach at Emporia State University in Kansas the past seven seasons. He replaces Tony Pujol, who recently left to become head coach at North Alabama.

Edwards said in the release from the University of Wyoming,

“We are excited to be able to hire a man with such a great reputation and respect level in this business. He is a man I have known since entering the business 17 years ago. I’m happy to have him as a member of our staff and bring him back home to the Cowboy Basketball Family.”

Shaun Vandiver, Wyoming Cowboys, College Basketball, UW, Wyo, Assistant Coach
Courtesy: Emporia State University
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Vandiver is glad he’s coming back to the high plains.

“I’m excited for the opportunity to join coach Allen Edwards and the staff in Laramie. My family and I are excited to head back to a community that we have wonderful memories and affection for.”

Vandiver went on to say, “I like the way the Cowboy basketball program has progressed, and my goal is to help the coaching staff keep it going and take it to another level. I’m just ready to do whatever coach Edwards needs me to do for this program and I’m all in.”

Vandiver guided the Hornets to five Mid-America Athletic Association tournaments in his tenure as head coach. He became only the second coach in MIAA history to lead his team to the tournament championship game in his first season.

During his previous stint at UW, Vandiver helped coach nine players that received All-Mountain West honors. Another highlight was assisting the Cowboys to the 2006 Mountain West Tournament championship game.

Vandiver has also been an assistant at Bowling Green State University, Northern Colorado and Boise State. He was a standout player with the Colorado Buffaloes from 1988-1991. He finished his career at the third leading scorer and rebounding at CU.

Vandiver and his wife, Danielle, have five children, which includes former Cowgirl standout Aubrey Vandiver, who starred at UW from 2006-2011.

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