Lucas Gabriel back at Chico State

From Luke Reid:

LeBron James isn't the only one coming home this summer. Lucas Gabriel is too. A Chico State men's basketball graduate assistant from 2008-2010, Gabriel returns as Head Coach Greg Clink's Head Assistant Coach for the 2014-15 season.

Gabriel took his talents to Fresno City College for three years and then spent last season at Bellevue University in Nebraska.

Now he's coming home.

"I am extremely excited that Lucas is returning to the program. He knows and loves Chico State and the community and he is going to be a great fit here," said Clink. "Lucas has a remarkable ability to connect and build great relationships with our student-athletes. He is a dynamic recruiter and we are expecting him to continue to help target the top players in the state."

Gabriel helped lead the Wildcats to their first postseason victory in 15 years in 2010 before leaving for Fresno City. Under his guidance as the head assistant coach, the Rams won three straight Central Valley Conference titles, two State Final Four appearances and the 2012 State Championship.

Gabriel also served as the director of the Academic Support Center for all freshman student-athletes at Fresno City.

Last season, as the head assistant coach at Bellevue University, Gabriel helped lead the Bruins to a 29-6 record, the Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference Championship and an NAIA Championships Sweet 16 appearance.

After graduating from Amphitheater High School in Tucson, Ariz., Gabriel began his collegiate career at College of the Siskiyous. He was a team captain and honorable mention All-Conference selection.

He transferred to Northern Arizona University and helped guide the Lumberjacks to back-to-back regular season Big Sky championships and a National Invitational Tournament (NIT) appearance in 2006.

Gabriel graduated from NAU in 2008 with a bachelor's degree in speech communications. He completed his master's degree in education from Chico State in 2010.

Gabriel and his wife, Lindsey Brown Gabriel, were married in August of 2013.

He takes over for Chris Cobb, who left for the University of Montana to be part of Travis DeCuire's new staff.

"I am very happy for Chris and his new position as assistant coach at The University of Montana. This is a terrific opportunity for him and I know he will do as great of a job for the Grizzlies as he did for the Wildcats," said Clink. "Chris has been so instrumental in the success we have had and I am going to miss working side by side with him on a daily basis."