CHICO, Calif. – Greg Clink, part of the Chico State basketball program’s last three conference titles as a player from 1992-94, and the current associate head coach at UC Davis, has been hired to coach the Chico State University men’s basketball team Athletic Director Anita Barker announced Tuesday morning. He is the 11th coach in the program’s 93-year history. Clink will be formally introduced at a press conference at Acker Gym Tuesday afternoon at 3:30.
Clink, the associate head coach at UC Davis since 2006, began his second stint as an assistant coach there in 2000. He helped lead the Aggies through the challenging transition from Division II to Division I through his primary duties of recruiting, scouting, and player development.
“This is a great day for Chico State men’s basketball,” said Barker. “I couldn’t be more excited to announce our new men’s basketball coach. Greg has everything we were looking for in a head coach. He’s a person of high character, enthusiasm, and integrity. He brings a solid commitment to the overall development of our student-athletes. And he possesses extensive West Coast recruiting experience.”
Clink replaces the man he once played for and coached under, Puck Smith, who recently announced his retirement after 21 seasons.
“This is an opportunity that I have waited for and dreamed of since I left Chico twelve years ago,” said Clink. “I cannot put into words the pride I feel for Chico State basketball. I had a tremendously positive experience here as a student-athlete and I look forward to helping provide that same experience to the student-athletes that I will coach.”
Clink transferred from Gavilan Community College to Chico State in 1991 to wrap up his collegiate career. He redshirted that year and then played on the 1992-93 and 1993-94 Northern California Athletic Conference Championship teams. The 1992-93 team also earned a berth in the NCAA Championship Tournament West Regional. In 1994, following his senior season, Clink was named the program’s Most Inspirational Player. He remained with the program as an assistant coach during the 1994-95 and 1995-96 seasons.
Clink first joined the UC Davis coaching staff in 1996-97 as an assistant to Bob Williams. The Aggies finished 20-9 that year, winning the Northern California Athletic Conference championship and advancing to the NCAA Division II West Regional.
After serving the 1997-98 season as head coach at Gavilan College, Clink rejoined Williams' staff when the former Aggie coach was named head coach at UC Santa Barbara. UCSB finished 15-13 in 1998-99, winning the Big West Conference's West Division championship, and went 14-14 in 1999-2000, finishing second in the division.
Clink was reunited with the UC Davis program beginning with the 2000-01 season, and has remained there since.
“To be able to take this exciting step in my coaching career at Chico State, and to be the person to succeed Coach Smith as an amazing honor,” said Clink. “I want to build upon the rich tradition that I experienced first hand as a player at Chico State. I have a vision for the Chico State men’s basketball program and that vision includes competing for CCAA championships and having the student-athletes in this program leave here with a degree and as life long members of the Chico State family.”
A 1994 graduate of Chico State, Clink has a bachelor's degree in physical education. He also completed his master’s degree in physical education at Chico State in 2000.
Clink and his wife, Courtney, were married in the summer of 2002. The couple has three sons: twins Justin and Tyler, and younger brother, Ryan, who was born in January 2006.
