Dennis Felton
Encyclopedia
Dennis Felton is an American basketball
coach for the National Basketball Association
New Jersey Nets
. He is the former head men's basketball coach at the University of Georgia
.
Felton was born in Tokyo
, Japan and spent his early years living in and visiting a variety of locales around the world, due to his father's career in the United States Air Force
. His family eventually moved to Clinton, Maryland
, a suburban town in the Washington, D.C.
, area, a short distance from Andrews Air Force Base
. Dennis Felton graduated from Surrattsville High School
in 1981 and went on to Prince George's Community College
. He completed his athletic and academic careers at Howard University
in 1985, where he was a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
All-Academic selection.
Felton got his start in the coaching profession as an assistant basketball
coach at Oxon Hill High School
in 1984. He then became an assistant coach at Charles County Community College, for one season (1985–86) before moving on to University of Delaware
as an assistant coach for four seasons (1986–90). Felton continued his collegiate career with one season each at Tulane University
and St. Joseph's University. In 1992 he took an assistant's post at Providence College
under Rick Barnes
. That season began a 6-year apprenticeship with Barnes that included two with the Friars and four at Clemson University
(1994–98). The six teams that Barnes and Felton coached together all posted winning seasons (including three 20-win campaigns), all played in the postseason (four NCAA berths, two in the NIT
) and went 114-71, averaging 19 wins per year.
In the spring of 1998, just before Barnes left Clemson for Texas
, Felton ascended to the lead chair at Western Kentucky University
. His first two Hilltopper squads went a combined 24-34. The 1999 team advanced to the Sun Belt
Tournament title game. His Hilltopper teams won the Sun Belt Conference tournament titles in 2001, 2002, and 2003. In April 2003, Felton was offered the head coaching position at the University of Georgia
. Felton also took assistant Coaches Bert Tucker and Ken McDonald
as well as legendary Associate Head Coach Pete Herrmann
with him to Athens.
In his first four seasons at Georgia, Felton had compiled a 58-63 record with two NIT
appearances while attempting to lead Georgia back from the severe disadvantages that previous coach Jim Harrick
dealt the program. Despite having only 9 scholarship players in 2007-2008, Felton's Bulldogs completed an unprecedented run in SEC Tournament Championship
history. Entering the 2008 SEC Men's Basketball Tournament
as the lowest seed, Georgia won 4 games in 3 days to capture the conference tournament crown and the corresponding automatic berth in the 2008 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament
. In their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2002, the Bulldogs were defeated by Xavier University in the first round in Philadelphia.
As of January 29, 2009, Dennis Felton is no longer the head coach of the UGA Men's Basketball team. This came with a losing streak that left the team with a 9-11 record in mid-season. He finished his career as the coach of UGA Men's Basketball team with a 84-91 record. Associate Head Coach Pete Herrmann
finished the 2008-2009 season as the interim head coach.
During the 2009-2010 NBA season, Felton served on the scouting staff for the Phoenix Suns
, mainly observing NCAA games in the southeast. He was also a part of the Suns' war room during the NBA draft in June 2010, led by General Manager Steve Kerr
and head coach Alvin Gentry
.
On June 28, 2010, the New Jersey Nets
announced that Felton would be an assistant coach for their Summer League team. It was not immediately known if Felton would remain a coach with the Nets for the regular season.
Felton is married to the former Melanie Smith, who is also a Howard alumna. The couple reside in Milton, Georgia
with their two sons, Jazz and Nile. Jazz and Nile are both basketball players. Jazz was a part of Milton High School
's state championship team as a freshman in 2009-2010.
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
coach for the National Basketball Association
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
New Jersey Nets
New Jersey Nets
The New Jersey Nets are a professional basketball team based in Newark, New Jersey. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
. He is the former head men's basketball coach at the University of Georgia
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
.
Felton was born in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, Japan and spent his early years living in and visiting a variety of locales around the world, due to his father's career in the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
. His family eventually moved to Clinton, Maryland
Clinton, Maryland
Clinton is an unincorporated area and census-designated place in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. Clinton was formerly known as Surrattsville until after the time of the American Civil War. The population of Clinton was 26,064 at the 2000 census. However, as of 2007, there is an...
, a suburban town in the Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, area, a short distance from Andrews Air Force Base
Andrews Air Force Base
Joint Base Andrews is a United States military facility located in Prince George's County, Maryland. The facility is under the jurisdiction of the United States Air Force 11th Wing, Air Force District of Washington ....
. Dennis Felton graduated from Surrattsville High School
Surrattsville High School
Surrattsville High School or SHS is a public high school located in Clinton, Maryland and is a part of the Prince George's County Public School System in Prince George's County, Maryland. The school educates about 1,100 children and teenagers in grades 9 through 12...
in 1981 and went on to Prince George's Community College
Prince George's Community College
Prince George's Community College is a community college located in the unincorporated community of Largo in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States...
. He completed his athletic and academic careers at Howard University
Howard University
Howard University is a federally chartered, non-profit, private, coeducational, nonsectarian, historically black university located in Washington, D.C., United States...
in 1985, where he was a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference is a collegiate athletic conference of historically black colleges and universities in the Southeastern United States...
All-Academic selection.
Felton got his start in the coaching profession as an assistant basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
coach at Oxon Hill High School
Oxon Hill High School
Oxon Hill High School is a public senior high school located in Oxon Hill, an unincorporated area in Prince George's County, Maryland, and a suburb of Washington, D.C...
in 1984. He then became an assistant coach at Charles County Community College, for one season (1985–86) before moving on to University of Delaware
University of Delaware
The university is organized into seven colleges:* College of Agriculture and Natural Resources* College of Arts and Sciences* Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics* College of Earth, Ocean and Environment* College of Education and Human Development...
as an assistant coach for four seasons (1986–90). Felton continued his collegiate career with one season each at Tulane University
Tulane University
Tulane University is a private, nonsectarian research university located in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States...
and St. Joseph's University. In 1992 he took an assistant's post at Providence College
Providence College
Providence College is a private, coeducational, Catholic university located about two miles west of downtown Providence, Rhode Island, United States, the state's capital city. With a 2010–2011 enrollment of 3,850 undergraduate students and 735 graduate students, the College specializes in academic...
under Rick Barnes
Rick Barnes
Richard Dale Barnes is the current head coach of the University of Texas Longhorns men's basketball team. He has coached Texas for the last twelve seasons, taking the team to the NCAA Tournament each year, including a Final Four appearance led by T. J. Ford in 2003...
. That season began a 6-year apprenticeship with Barnes that included two with the Friars and four at Clemson University
Clemson University
Clemson University is an American public, coeducational, land-grant, sea-grant, research university located in Clemson, South Carolina, United States....
(1994–98). The six teams that Barnes and Felton coached together all posted winning seasons (including three 20-win campaigns), all played in the postseason (four NCAA berths, two in the NIT
National Invitation Tournament
The National Invitation Tournament is a men's college basketball tournament operated by the National Collegiate Athletic Association. There are two NIT events each season. The first, played in November and known as the Dick's Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off , was founded in 1985...
) and went 114-71, averaging 19 wins per year.
In the spring of 1998, just before Barnes left Clemson for Texas
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
, Felton ascended to the lead chair at Western Kentucky University
Western Kentucky University
Western Kentucky University is a public university in Bowling Green, Kentucky, USA. It was formally founded by the Commonwealth of Kentucky in 1906, though its roots reach back a quarter-century earlier....
. His first two Hilltopper squads went a combined 24-34. The 1999 team advanced to the Sun Belt
Sun Belt Conference
The Sun Belt Conference is a college athletic conference that has been affiliated with the NCAA's Division I since 1976. Its football teams participate in the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision , the higher of two levels of Division I football competition . The Sun Belt has member institutions...
Tournament title game. His Hilltopper teams won the Sun Belt Conference tournament titles in 2001, 2002, and 2003. In April 2003, Felton was offered the head coaching position at the University of Georgia
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
. Felton also took assistant Coaches Bert Tucker and Ken McDonald
Ken McDonald (basketball coach)
Ken McDonald is an American college basketball coach and the current head coach at Western Kentucky University.McDonald spent from 2004 to 2008 at Texas under Rick Barnes...
as well as legendary Associate Head Coach Pete Herrmann
Pete Herrmann
-See also:*Navy Midshipmen men's basketball...
with him to Athens.
In his first four seasons at Georgia, Felton had compiled a 58-63 record with two NIT
National Invitation Tournament
The National Invitation Tournament is a men's college basketball tournament operated by the National Collegiate Athletic Association. There are two NIT events each season. The first, played in November and known as the Dick's Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off , was founded in 1985...
appearances while attempting to lead Georgia back from the severe disadvantages that previous coach Jim Harrick
Jim Harrick
Jim Harrick is an American former basketball coach who coached at Pepperdine University, UCLA, the University of Rhode Island and the University of Georgia over a combined total of 23 seasons.-Biography:...
dealt the program. Despite having only 9 scholarship players in 2007-2008, Felton's Bulldogs completed an unprecedented run in SEC Tournament Championship
SEC Men's Basketball Tournament
The SEC Men's Basketball Tournament is the conference tournament in basketball for the Southeastern Conference . It is a single-elimination tournament that involves all league schools . Its seeding is based on regular season records...
history. Entering the 2008 SEC Men's Basketball Tournament
2008 SEC Men's Basketball Tournament
The 2008 SEC Men's Basketball Tournament took place on March 13–16, 2008 in Atlanta, Georgia. The first, quarterfinal, and semifinal rounds were televised by Raycom/LF Sports, and the SEC Championship Game was produced by CBS and televised by ESPN2...
as the lowest seed, Georgia won 4 games in 3 days to capture the conference tournament crown and the corresponding automatic berth in the 2008 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament
2008 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 2008 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 65 schools playing in a single-elimination tournament to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball as a culmination of the 2007–08 basketball season...
. In their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2002, the Bulldogs were defeated by Xavier University in the first round in Philadelphia.
As of January 29, 2009, Dennis Felton is no longer the head coach of the UGA Men's Basketball team. This came with a losing streak that left the team with a 9-11 record in mid-season. He finished his career as the coach of UGA Men's Basketball team with a 84-91 record. Associate Head Coach Pete Herrmann
Pete Herrmann
-See also:*Navy Midshipmen men's basketball...
finished the 2008-2009 season as the interim head coach.
During the 2009-2010 NBA season, Felton served on the scouting staff for the Phoenix Suns
Phoenix Suns
The Phoenix Suns are a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association and the only team in their division not to be based in California. Their home arena since 1992 has been the US...
, mainly observing NCAA games in the southeast. He was also a part of the Suns' war room during the NBA draft in June 2010, led by General Manager Steve Kerr
Steve Kerr
Stephen Douglas "Steve" Kerr is a retired American professional basketball player. He shot .454 from three point range over his career and currently holds the record as the most accurate three-point shooter in NBA history...
and head coach Alvin Gentry
Alvin Gentry
Alvin Gentry is an American professional basketball coach, and college basketball player, who has led four different NBA teams. He served as an interim coach for the Miami Heat at the end of the 1995 season, and later coached the Detroit Pistons and the Los Angeles Clippers...
.
On June 28, 2010, the New Jersey Nets
New Jersey Nets
The New Jersey Nets are a professional basketball team based in Newark, New Jersey. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
announced that Felton would be an assistant coach for their Summer League team. It was not immediately known if Felton would remain a coach with the Nets for the regular season.
Felton is married to the former Melanie Smith, who is also a Howard alumna. The couple reside in Milton, Georgia
Milton, Georgia
Milton is a city in Fulton County, Georgia, United States. Incorporated on December 1, 2006, it was created out of the entire unincorporated northwestern part of northern Fulton County. It is a highly affluent community with an average household income within the zip code 30004 of $99,412...
with their two sons, Jazz and Nile. Jazz and Nile are both basketball players. Jazz was a part of Milton High School
Milton High School (Milton, Georgia)
Milton High School is a high school in Milton, northeast Fulton County, Georgia, United States.-History:Milton High School was founded in the shadows of metropolitan Atlanta within the city of Alpharetta, Georgia - a few blocks away from Main Street, USA. When Principal W. T...
's state championship team as a freshman in 2009-2010.