Steve Hawkins

Steve Hawkins (born August 3, 1962) is an American college basketball coach and the current head men's basketball coach at Western Michigan University. He had previously served as the head coach at Quincy University.

Background

Hawkins was born in Ventura, California. Following his graduation from high school, Hawkins spent time as a high school basketball coach in the Los Angeles area at Villanova Preparatory School and St. Bonaventure High School during the early 1980s. During this time he worked as an assistant at UCLA basketball camps, serving as chauffeur for legendary Bruins coach John Wooden. While the two were stuck in traffic, they were able to talk basketball. Hawkins maintained the UCLA connection during his coaching career, often having Wooden speak to his teams at Quincy and Western Michigan. Former UCLA head coach Larry Farmer, would later work for Hawkins as an assistant coach at Western Michigan from 2010–12 and again from 2013 until the present.

Hawkins later attended the University of South Alabama, graduating with a bachelor's degree in 1987. From 1984–87 he served as a student assistant to men's basketball head coach Mike Hanks. In 1989 he earned his master's degree in sports science from the United States Sports Academy.