Fresno State Athletics
Felton hired by Hutson as an assistant coach
6/18/2018 2:09:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Longtime Mountain West assistant Tarvish Felton returns to the Golden State after 10 years, including the past two seasons as associate head coach, at Utah State.
FRESNO, Calif. --- Tarvish Felton (pronounced Tarvis) has been hired as one of the Fresno State men's basketball team's assistant coaches, head coach Justin Hutson announced on Monday.
"Tarvish has tremendous experience in college basketball and he's an incredibly well-rounded coach," Hutson said. "He will be a great mentor for our student-athletes. They'll love him. Tarvish wanted to be in Fresno. Throughout his career, he has formed strong relationships in recruiting and has recruited some really successful players, but he has also had a big influence on the floor."
Felton has 19 years of coaching experience, including the last 10 seasons at Utah State working for Stew Morrill and Tim Duryea. For USU, he was primarily responsible for offense, post player development, recruiting, academics, opposing team scouts, game preparation, player development and scheduling.
"I'm super excited to be a part of the Bulldog family," Felton said. "I have so much respect for what Coach Hut has done at San Diego State and UNLV. We have a great opportunity to continue to be a contender in the Mountain West and help our student-athletes be the best that they can be. I'll be getting out in the community as much as I can and can't wait to meet the Red Wave all over the Valley!"
During his 10 seasons with the Aggies, Felton coached 20 all-conference selections, including two Players of the Year (Gary Wilkinson in 2009 and Tai Wesley in 2011) and 2017 Mountain West Freshman of the Year Koby McEwen, who recently transferred from USU to Marquette.Â
This past season, Utah State reached the MW semifinals and regularly frustrated opposing defenses with its efficient offensive execution and detailed game plans.  The Aggies' offense led the MW during the 2016-17 season, as USU shot a league-best 46.1 percent (790-of-1,713) from the floor and finished second behind the 3-point line, shooting 37.9 percent (234-of-618). Utah State improved dramatically on the boards in 2015-16, averaging more than four rebounds per game (35.7) than the previous year (31.5) and out rebounding opponents overall, 35.7 to 34.5.
Under Felton's tutelage in 2013-14, Utah State led the MW and ranked 18th in the NCAA in rebound margin (+5.8). Individually, Jarred Shaw was 35th in defensive rebounds per game (6.33) and 73rd in overall rebounds per game (8.3), along with eighth in the Mountain West in rebounding (8.3). Shaw earned honorable mention all-Mountain West honors in 2013-14, and appeared on the Charlotte Hornets Summer League roster in 2014. In 2012-13, USU led the Western Athletic Conference and ranked third in the NCAA in rebounding margin (+9.1), while also leading the conference in rebounding defense (28.4 rpg).
Felton began his coaching career as an assistant at Southern Utah during the 1999-2000 season, before spending two years at Cal State Los Angeles. He then spent the 2002-03 academic year starting the Texas A&M-International program and served as its head coach for three seasons, followed by another one-year stint as an assistant at Southern Utah before moving on to Sacramento State for the 2007-08 season. In those first nine seasons of his career, he coached 11 players who earned all-conference honors before moving on to USU.
A 1999 graduate of Southern Utah with a bachelor's degree in physical education, Felton was a two-time IHC Health Plans state player of the year as a junior and senior. At the conclusion of the 1999 season, he received all-Mid-Continent Conference honors and was named Southern Utah's Male Athlete of the Year, Men's Basketball Academic Athlete of the Year and team MVP. All-time, Felton ranks fourth in Southern Utah history in blocked shots (68), fifth in steals (139) and seventh in rebounding (505), leading SUU in rebounding in 1998 with 7.6 rebounds per game.
Felton, who is a native of Perry, Ga., played his freshman season at Northeast College in Norfolk, Neb.
Felton and his wife, USU Deputy Athletics Director Jana Doggett, have an 18-year old daughter, DeAubrey Ann Bowers, and a 3-year-old son, Deekan G. Felton.
"Just the Ticket to Build Our Community" – The Bulldog Scholarship Fund gives Bulldog alumni, fans and friends the opportunity to support Fresno State Athletics and the student-athletes who inspire them. For information about how you can support the Bulldog Scholarship Fund, please visit www.bulldogscholarshipfund.com or call 559-278-7160.
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"Tarvish has tremendous experience in college basketball and he's an incredibly well-rounded coach," Hutson said. "He will be a great mentor for our student-athletes. They'll love him. Tarvish wanted to be in Fresno. Throughout his career, he has formed strong relationships in recruiting and has recruited some really successful players, but he has also had a big influence on the floor."
Felton has 19 years of coaching experience, including the last 10 seasons at Utah State working for Stew Morrill and Tim Duryea. For USU, he was primarily responsible for offense, post player development, recruiting, academics, opposing team scouts, game preparation, player development and scheduling.
"I'm super excited to be a part of the Bulldog family," Felton said. "I have so much respect for what Coach Hut has done at San Diego State and UNLV. We have a great opportunity to continue to be a contender in the Mountain West and help our student-athletes be the best that they can be. I'll be getting out in the community as much as I can and can't wait to meet the Red Wave all over the Valley!"
During his 10 seasons with the Aggies, Felton coached 20 all-conference selections, including two Players of the Year (Gary Wilkinson in 2009 and Tai Wesley in 2011) and 2017 Mountain West Freshman of the Year Koby McEwen, who recently transferred from USU to Marquette.Â
This past season, Utah State reached the MW semifinals and regularly frustrated opposing defenses with its efficient offensive execution and detailed game plans.  The Aggies' offense led the MW during the 2016-17 season, as USU shot a league-best 46.1 percent (790-of-1,713) from the floor and finished second behind the 3-point line, shooting 37.9 percent (234-of-618). Utah State improved dramatically on the boards in 2015-16, averaging more than four rebounds per game (35.7) than the previous year (31.5) and out rebounding opponents overall, 35.7 to 34.5.
Under Felton's tutelage in 2013-14, Utah State led the MW and ranked 18th in the NCAA in rebound margin (+5.8). Individually, Jarred Shaw was 35th in defensive rebounds per game (6.33) and 73rd in overall rebounds per game (8.3), along with eighth in the Mountain West in rebounding (8.3). Shaw earned honorable mention all-Mountain West honors in 2013-14, and appeared on the Charlotte Hornets Summer League roster in 2014. In 2012-13, USU led the Western Athletic Conference and ranked third in the NCAA in rebounding margin (+9.1), while also leading the conference in rebounding defense (28.4 rpg).
Felton began his coaching career as an assistant at Southern Utah during the 1999-2000 season, before spending two years at Cal State Los Angeles. He then spent the 2002-03 academic year starting the Texas A&M-International program and served as its head coach for three seasons, followed by another one-year stint as an assistant at Southern Utah before moving on to Sacramento State for the 2007-08 season. In those first nine seasons of his career, he coached 11 players who earned all-conference honors before moving on to USU.
A 1999 graduate of Southern Utah with a bachelor's degree in physical education, Felton was a two-time IHC Health Plans state player of the year as a junior and senior. At the conclusion of the 1999 season, he received all-Mid-Continent Conference honors and was named Southern Utah's Male Athlete of the Year, Men's Basketball Academic Athlete of the Year and team MVP. All-time, Felton ranks fourth in Southern Utah history in blocked shots (68), fifth in steals (139) and seventh in rebounding (505), leading SUU in rebounding in 1998 with 7.6 rebounds per game.
Felton, who is a native of Perry, Ga., played his freshman season at Northeast College in Norfolk, Neb.
Felton and his wife, USU Deputy Athletics Director Jana Doggett, have an 18-year old daughter, DeAubrey Ann Bowers, and a 3-year-old son, Deekan G. Felton.
"Just the Ticket to Build Our Community" – The Bulldog Scholarship Fund gives Bulldog alumni, fans and friends the opportunity to support Fresno State Athletics and the student-athletes who inspire them. For information about how you can support the Bulldog Scholarship Fund, please visit www.bulldogscholarshipfund.com or call 559-278-7160.
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